Method and device for transmitting and receiving wireless signals in wireless communication system

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a method and a device therefor, the method comprising the steps of: obtaining, on the basis of not receiving information on a channel occupancy duration from a base station, channel state information based on a plurality of CSI-reference signals (CSI-RSs) which are all overlapped with, on a time domain, at least one from among a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and an aperiodic CSI-RS; and transmitting the channel state information to the base station, wherein durations corresponding to the PDSCH and the aperiodic CSI-RS are consecutive time durations on the time domain.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No.PCT/KR2021/004643, filed on Apr. 13, 2021, which claims the benefit ofKorean Application No. 10-2021-0005650, filed on Jan. 15, 2021, KoreanApplication No. 10-2020-0098340, filed on Aug. 6, 2020, KoreanApplication No. 10-2020-0057064, filed on May 13, 2020, U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 63/015,668, filed on Apr. 26, 2020, and U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 63/009,420, filed on Apr. 13, 2020. The disclosures ofthe prior applications are incorporated by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a wireless communication system, andmore particularly, to a method and apparatus for transmitting andreceiving a wireless signal.

BACKGROUND

Wireless access systems have been widely deployed to provide varioustypes of communication services such as voice or data. In general, awireless access system is a multiple access system that supportscommunication of multiple users by sharing available system resources (abandwidth, transmission power, etc.) among them. For example, multipleaccess systems include a code division multiple access (CDMA) system, afrequency division multiple access (FDMA) system, a time divisionmultiple access (TDMA) system, an orthogonal frequency division multipleaccess (OFDMA) system, and a single carrier frequency division multipleaccess (SC-FDMA) system.

SUMMARY

Provided are a method and apparatus for efficiently performing awireless signal transmission and reception process.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the objectsthat could be achieved with the present disclosure are not limited towhat has been particularly described hereinabove and the above and otherobjects that the present disclosure could achieve will be more clearlyunderstood from the following detailed description.

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda method of transmitting channel state information (CSI) by a userequipment (UE) in a wireless communication system supporting unlicensedbands. The method may include: based on a failure to receive informationon a channel occupancy duration from a base station (BS), obtaining theCSI based on a plurality of channel state information reference signals(CSI-RSs) fully overlapping with at least one of a physical downlinkshared channel (PDSCH) and an aperiodic CSI-RS in a time domain; andtransmitting the CSI to the BS. A duration corresponding to the PDSCHand the aperiodic CSI-RS may be a continuous time duration in the timedomain.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a UE configured to operate in a wireless communication systemsupporting unlicensed bands. The UE may include: at least one radiofrequency (RF) unit; at least one processor; and at least one computermemory operably connected to the at least one processor and configuredto, when executed, cause the at least one processor to performoperations. The operations may include: based on a failure to receiveinformation on a channel occupancy duration from a BS, obtaining CSIbased on a plurality of CSI-RSs fully overlapping with at least one of aPDSCH and an aperiodic CSI-RS in a time domain; and transmitting the CSIto the BS. A duration corresponding to the PDSCH and the aperiodicCSI-RS may be a continuous time duration in the time domain.

According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is providedan apparatus for a UE. The apparatus may include: at least oneprocessor; and at least one computer memory operably connected to the atleast one processor and configured to, when executed, cause the at leastone processor to perform operations. The operations may include: basedon a failure to receive information on a channel occupancy duration froma BS, obtaining CSI based on a plurality of CSI-RSs fully overlappingwith at least one of a PDSCH and an aperiodic CSI-RS in a time domain;and transmitting the CSI to the BS. A duration corresponding to thePDSCH and the aperiodic CSI-RS may be a continuous time duration in thetime domain.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a computer-readable storage medium. The computer-readablestorage medium may include at least one computer program configured to,when executed, cause at least one processor to perform operations. Theoperations may include: based on a failure to receive information on achannel occupancy duration from a BS, obtaining CSI based on a pluralityof CSI-RSs fully overlapping with at least one of a PDSCH and anaperiodic CSI-RS in a time domain; and transmitting the CSI to the BS. Aduration corresponding to the PDSCH and the aperiodic CSI-RS may be acontinuous time duration in the time domain.

According to an embodiment, the failure to receive the information onthe channel occupancy duration may include receiving group commondownlink control information (DCI) in which a slot format indicatorfield and a channel occupancy duration field are not configured orskipping monitoring of the group common DCI.

According to an embodiment, the UE may further receive informationinstructing to configure the plurality of CSI-RSs based on the at leastone of the PDSCH and the aperiodic CSI-RS through higher layersignaling.

According to an embodiment, the CSI may be obtained based on an averagevalue of the plurality of CSI-RSs.

According to an embodiment, the continuous time duration correspondingto the PDSCH and the aperiodic CSI-RS in the time domain may bedetermined as one transmission burst.

According to an embodiment, each of the plurality of CSI-RSs may be aperiodic CSI-RS or a semi-persistent CSI-RS.

According to the present disclosure, a wireless signal may beefficiently transmitted and received in a wireless communication system.

According to the present disclosure, even when a user equipment does notreceive information on a channel occupancy duration from a base station(BS), the UE may determine the same downlink (DL) transmission burstbased on a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and/or an aperiodicchannel state information reference signal (CSI-RS), which are receivedby the UE. In addition, the UE may obtain channel state information(CSI) based on a plurality of CSI-RSs belonging to the same DLtransmission burst.

According to the present disclosure, even when a UE does not receiveinformation on a channel occupancy duration from a BS, the UE maymeasure a channel state accurately.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the effectsthat can be achieved with the present disclosure are not limited to whathas been particularly described hereinabove and other advantages of thepresent disclosure will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure, illustrate embodiments of the presentdisclosure and together with the description serve to explain theprinciple of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 illustrates physical channels and a general signal transmissionmethod using the physical channels in a 3rd generation partnershipproject (3GPP) system as an exemplary wireless communication system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a radio frame structure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a resource grid of a slot.

FIG. 4 illustrates mapping of physical channels in a slot.

FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate various slot formats.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an exemplary wireless communication systemsupporting an unlicensed band.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary method of occupying resources in anunlicensed band.

FIG. 8 illustrates a channel access procedure (CAP).

FIG. 9 illustrates a CAP-bandwidth (CAP-BW).

FIGS. 10 to 20 illustrate proposed methods in the description.

FIGS. 21 to 24 illustrate a communication system 1 and wireless devices,which are applied to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following technology may be used in various wireless access systemssuch as code division multiple access (CDMA), frequency divisionmultiple access (FDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), orthogonalfrequency division multiple access (OFDMA), single carrier frequencydivision multiple access (SC-FDMA), and so on. CDMA may be implementedas a radio technology such as universal terrestrial radio access (UTRA)or CDMA2000. TDMA may be implemented as a radio technology such asglobal system for mobile communications (GSM)/general packet radioservice (GPRS)/enhanced data rates for GSM evolution (EDGE). OFDMA maybe implemented as a radio technology such as institute of electrical andelectronics engineers (IEEE) 802.11 (wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)), IEEE802.16 (worldwide interoperability for microwave access (WiMAX)), IEEE802.20, evolved UTRA (E-UTRA), and so on. UTRA is a part of universalmobile telecommunications system (UMTS). 3rd generation partnershipproject (3GPP) long term evolution (LTE) is a part of evolved UMTS(E-UMTS) using E-UTRA, and LTE-advanced (LTE-A) is an evolution of 3GPPLTE. 3GPP new radio or new radio access technology (NR) is an evolvedversion of 3GPP LTE/LTE-A.

As more and more communication devices require larger communicationcapacities, the need for enhanced mobile broadband communicationrelative to the legacy radio access technologies (RATs) has emerged.Massive machine type communication (MTC) providing various services tointer-connected multiple devices and things at any time in any place isone of significant issues to be addressed for next-generationcommunication. A communication system design in which services sensitiveto reliability and latency are considered is under discussion as well.As such, the introduction of the next-generation radio access technology(RAT) for enhanced mobile broadband communication (eMBB), massive MTC(mMTC), and ultra-reliable and low latency communication (URLLC) isbeing discussed. For convenience, this technology is called NR or NewRAT in the present disclosure.

While the following description is given in the context of a 3GPPcommunication system (e.g., NR) for clarity, the technical spirit of thepresent disclosure is not limited to the 3GPP communication system.

In a wireless access system, a user equipment (UE) receives informationfrom a base station (BS) on DL and transmits information to the BS onUL. The information transmitted and received between the UE and the BSincludes general data and various types of control information. Thereare many physical channels according to the types/usages of informationtransmitted and received between the BS and the UE.

FIG. 1 illustrates physical channels and a general signal transmissionmethod using the physical channels in a 3GPP system.

When a UE is powered on or enters a new cell, the UE performs initialcell search (S101). The initial cell search involves acquisition ofsynchronization to a BS. For this purpose, the UE receives asynchronization signal block (SSB) from the BS. The SSB includes aprimary synchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal(SSS), and a physical broadcast channel (PBCH). The UE synchronizes itstiming to the BS and acquires information such as a cell identifier (ID)based on the PSS/SSS. Further, the UE may acquire information broadcastin the cell by receiving the PBCH from the BS. During the initial cellsearch, the UE may also monitor a DL channel state by receiving adownlink reference signal (DL RS).

Subsequently, to complete connection to the BS, the UE may perform arandom access procedure with the BS (S103 to S106). Specifically, the UEmay transmit a preamble on a physical random access channel (PRACH)(S103) and may receive a PDCCH and a random access response (RAR) forthe preamble on a PDSCH corresponding to the PDCCH (S104). The UE maythen transmit a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) by usingscheduling information in the RAR (S105), and perform a contentionresolution procedure including reception of a PDCCH and a PDSCH signalcorresponding to the PDCCH (S106).

After the above procedure, the UE may receive a PDCCH and/or a PDSCHfrom the BS (S107) and transmit a physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH)and/or a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) to the BS (S108), in ageneral UL/DL signal transmission procedure. Control information thatthe UE transmits to the BS is generically called uplink controlinformation (UCI). The UCI includes a hybrid automatic repeat andrequest acknowledgement/negative acknowledgement (HARQ-ACK/NACK), ascheduling request (SR), channel state information (CSI), and so on. TheCSI includes a channel quality indicator (CQI), a precoding matrix index(PMI), a rank indication (RI), and so on. In general, UCI is transmittedon a PUCCH. However, if control information and data should betransmitted simultaneously, the control information and the data may betransmitted on a PUSCH. In addition, the UE may transmit the UCIaperiodically on the PUSCH, upon receipt of a request/command from anetwork.

FIG. 2 illustrates a radio frame structure.

In NR, UL and DL transmissions are configured in frames. Each radioframe has a length of 10 ms and is divided into two 5-ms half-frames.Each half-frame is divided into five 1-ms subframes. A subframe isdivided into one or more slots, and the number of slots in a subframedepends on a subcarrier spacing (SCS). Each slot includes 12 or 14OFDM(A) symbols according to a cyclic prefix (CP). When a normal CP isused, each slot includes 14 OFDM symbols. When an extended CP is used,each slot includes 12 OFDM symbols. A symbol may include an OFDM symbol(or a CP-OFDM symbol) and an SC-FDMA symbol (or a discrete Fouriertransform-spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbol).

Table 1 exemplarily illustrates that the number of symbols per slot, thenumber of slots per frame, and the number of slots per subframe varyaccording to SCSs in a normal CP case.

TABLE 1 SCS(15 * 2{circumflex over ( )}u) N^(slot) _(symb) N^(frame,u)_(slot) N^(subframe,u) _(slot)  15 KHz (u = 0) 14 10 1  30 KHz (u = l)14 20 2  60 KHz (u = 2) 14 40 4 120 KHz (u = 3) 14 80 8 240 KHz (u = 4)14 160 16 * N^(slot) _(symb): number of symbols in a slot * N^(frame,u)_(slot): number of slots in a frame * N^(subframe,u) _(slot): number ofslots in a sub-frame

Table 2 illustrates that the number of symbols per slot, the number ofslots per frame, and the number of slots per subframe vary according toSCSs in an extended CP case.

TABLE 2 SCS(15 * 2{circumflex over ( )}u) N^(slot) _(symb) N^(frame,u)_(slot) N^(subframe,u) _(slot) 60 KHz (u = 2) 12 40 4

The frame structure is merely an example, and the number of subframes,the number of slots, and the number of symbols in a frame may be changedin various manners.

In the NR system, different OFDM(A) numerologies (e.g., SCSs, CPlengths, and so on) may be configured for a plurality of cellsaggregated for one UE. Accordingly, the (absolute time) duration of atime resource (e.g., a subframe, a slot, or a transmission time interval(TTI)) (for convenience, referred to as a time unit (TU)) composed ofthe same number of symbols may be configured differently between theaggregated cells. A symbol may include an OFDM symbol (or a CP-OFDMsymbol) and an SC-FDMA symbol (or a discrete Fouriertransform-spread-OFDM (DFT-s-OFDM) symbol).

NR may support various numerologies (or subcarrier spacings (SCSs)) toprovide various 5G services. For example, NR may support a wide area inconventional cellular bands in an SCS of 15 kHz and support a denseurban area and a wide carrier bandwidth with lower latency in an SCS of30/60 kHz. In an SCS of 60 kHz or above, NR may support a bandwidthhigher than 24.25 GHz to overcome phase noise.

NR frequency bands may be divided into two frequency ranges: frequencyrange 1 (FR1) and frequency range 2 (FR2). FR1 and FR2 may be configuredas shown in Table 3 below. FR 2 may mean a millimeter wave (mmW).

TABLE 3 Frequency Range Corresponding frequency designation rangeSubcarrier Spacing FR1  450 MHz-7125 MHz 15, 30, 60 kHz FR2 24250MHz-52600 MHz 60, 120, 240 kHz

FIG. 3 illustrates a resource grid during the duration of one slot. Aslot includes a plurality of symbols in the time domain. For example,one slot includes 14 symbols in a normal CP case and 12 symbols in anextended CP case. A carrier includes a plurality of subcarriers in thefrequency domain. A resource block (RB) may be defined by a plurality of(e.g., 12) consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain. A bandwidthpart (BWP) may be defined by a plurality of consecutive (physical) RBs((P)RBs) in the frequency domain and correspond to one numerology (e.g.,SCS, CP length, and so on). A carrier may include up to N (e.g., 5)BWPs. Data communication may be conducted in an active BWP, and only oneBWP may be activated for one UE. Each element in a resource grid may bereferred to as a resource element (RE), to which one complex symbol maybe mapped.

FIG. 4 illustrates a structure of a slot. In the NR system, a frame hasa self-contained structure in which a DL control channel, DL or UL data,a UL control channel, and the like may all be contained in one slot. Forexample, the first N symbols (hereinafter, DL control region) in theslot may be used to transmit a DL control channel (e.g., PDCCH), and thelast M symbols (hereinafter, UL control region) in the slot may be usedto transmit a UL control channel (e.g., PUCCH). N and M are integersgreater than or equal to 0. A resource region (hereinafter, a dataregion) that is between the DL control region and the UL control regionmay be used for DL data (e.g., PDSCH) transmission or UL data (e.g.,PUSCH) transmission. The GP provides a time gap for the BS and UE totransition from the transmission mode to the reception mode or from thereception mode to the transmission mode. Some symbols at the time ofDL-to-UL switching in a subframe may be configured as the GP.

The PDCCH delivers DCI. For example, the PDCCH (i.e., DCI) may carryinformation about a transport format and resource allocation of a DLshared channel (DL-SCH), resource allocation information of an uplinkshared channel (UL-SCH), paging information on a paging channel (PCH),system information on the DL-SCH, information on resource allocation ofa higher-layer control message such as an RAR transmitted on a PDSCH, atransmit power control command, information about activation/release ofconfigured scheduling (CS), and so on.

Various DCI formats are provided according to information in the DCI.Table 4 exemplarily shows DCI formats transmitted on the PDCCH.

TABLE 4 DCI format Usage 0_0 Scheduling of PUSCH in one cell 0_1Scheduling of PUSCH in one cell 1_0 Scheduling of PDSCH in one cell 1_1Scheduling of PDSCH in one cell 2_0 Notifying a group of UEs of the slotformat 2_1 Notifying a group of UEs of the PRB(s) and OFDM symbol(s)where UE may assume no transmission is intended for the UE 2_2Transmission of TPC commands for PUCCH and PUSCH 2_3 Transmission of agroup of TPC commands for SRS transmissions by one or more UEs

DCI format 0_0 may be used to schedule a transport block (TB)-based (orTB-level) PUSCH, and DCI format 0_1 may be used to schedule a TB-based(or TB-level) PUSCH or a code block group (CBG)-based (or CBG-level)PUSCH. DCI format 1_0 may be used to schedule a TB-based (or TB-level)PDSCH, and DCI format 1_1 may be used to schedule a TB-based (orTB-level) PDSCH or a CBG-based (or CBG-level) PDSCH.

DCI format 2_0 may be used to provide dynamic slot format information(e.g., dynamic SFI) to the UE, and DCI format 2_1 may be used to providedownlink pre-emption information to the UE. UEs defined as one group maybe provided with DCI format 2_0 and/or DCI format 2_1 over a groupcommon PDCCH, which is a PDCCH defined for a group of UEs. A slot formatindicates the usage of each symbol in a slot. Specifically, the slotformat indicates one of Downlink (D), Uplink (U), and Flexible (F) foreach symbol. Slot format related information may be transmitted in oneor more of the following signals:

-   -   Static or semi-static slot format indication (SFI) through        higher layer signaling (e.g., TDD-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon        and/or TDD-UL-DL-ConfigDedicated)    -   Measurement related scheduling signal (e.g., measurement related        signal configured by UE-specific RRC signaling)    -   Dynamic SFI (e.g., signal transmitted in DCI format 2_0)    -   UE-specific data transmission scheduling signal (e.g.,        UE-specific DCI)

The static or semi-static SFI may be provided by cell-specific RRCsignaling (e.g., TDD-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon) or UE-specific RRCsignaling (e.g., TDD-UL-DL-ConfigDedicated). The measurement relatedsignal may be provided by UE-specific RRC signaling, and thecorresponding signal may indicate a periodic/semi-persistent CSI-RS, aperiodic CSI report, a periodic/semi-persistent SRS, etc. TheUE-specific data transmission related signal may include UE-specific DCItriggering a PUCCH along with an A/N for a PDSCH, a PUSCH, or a PDSCH,and DCI triggering an aperiodic measurement related signal such as anaperiodic CSI-RS, an aperiodic SRS, etc.

Slot formats include formats for zero, one, and two switching points.FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrate various slot formats. Specifically, FIG. 5Aillustrates a slot format for zero switching points, FIG. 5B illustratesa slot format for one switching point, and FIG. 5C illustrates a slotformat for two switching points.

The slot format for zero switching points includes 14 DL symbols, 14flexible symbols, or 14 UL symbols. The slot format for one switchingpoint is configured to start with zero or more DL symbols and end withzero or more UL symbols and include one or more flexible symbols andDL/UL symbols in between. The slot format for two switching points isconfigured to include first 7 symbols starting with 0 or more DL symbolsand ending with one or more UL symbols at the 7th symbol and second 7symbols starting with one or more DL symbols and ending with zero ormore UL symbols. Each of the first 7 symbols and the second 7 symbolsmay include zero or more flexible symbols.

A maximum of 256 slot formats may be defined, and the configurations ofthe slot formats in specifications such as TS 38.211. The UE may beconfigured with a UE-specific SFI table based on the maximum 256 slotformats through higher layer signaling and receives a specific indexvalue of the UE-specific SFI table in DCI format 2_0 (or a GC-PDCCH).

For signals carrying the above-described slot format relatedinformation, the UE may determine a slot format based on the followingpriority:

Slot format information through cell-specific higher layer signaling(e.g., TDD-UL-DL-ConfigurationCommon)>slot format information throughUE-specific higher layer signaling (e.g.,TDD-UL-DL-ConfigDedicated)>slot format information on a GC-PDCCH (e.g.,DCI format 2_0)>UE-specific data transmission schedulinginformation>measurement related scheduling information.

When the UE receives slot format related information in a plurality ofsignals, the UE may consider indication information in the signalsaccording to the following priority only to identify the usage of asymbol indicated as flexible by a high priority signal. Therefore, whena specific symbol in a slot is indicated to the UE as DL/UL bycell-specific RRC signaling or UE-specific RRC signaling, the UE may notexpect DCI format 2_0 (or a group-specific PDCCH including DCI format2_0) to indicate the specific symbol as UL/DL or flexible. When aspecific symbol in a slot is indicated as flexible by DCI format 2_0 (ora group-specific PDCCH including DCI format 2_0), the UE may transmitand receive a related signal in the specific symbol only when separatelyreceiving scheduling information (e.g., UE-specific scheduling DCI). Ifthe UE receives no scheduling information separately, the UE may nottransmit/receive a signal in the specific symbol.

The size of DCI format 2_0 may be set to a maximum of X bits (e.g., 128bits) by higher layer signaling.

The DCI includes a cyclic redundancy check (CRC). The CRC is masked withvarious identifiers (IDs) (e.g., a radio network temporary identifier(RNTI)) according to an owner or usage of the PDCCH. For example, if thePDCCH is for a specific UE, the CRC is masked by a UE ID (e.g.,cell-RNTI (C-RNTI)). If the PDCCH is for a paging message, the CRC ismasked by a paging-RNTI (P-RNTI). If the PDCCH is for system information(e.g., a system information block (SIB)), the CRC is masked by a systeminformation RNTI (SI-RNTI). When the PDCCH is for an RAR, the CRC ismasked by a random access-RNTI (RA-RNTI).

Table 5 exemplarily shows usages and transport channels of the PDCCHaccording to RNTIs. The transport channels are related to data carriedby a PDSCH/PUSCH scheduled by the PDCCH.

TABLE 5 Transport RNTI Usage Channel P-RNTI Paging and System PCH(PagingInformation change Channel) notification SI-RNTI Broadcast of SystemInformation DL-SCH RA-RNTI Random Access Response DL-SCH C-RNTIDynamically scheduled unicast UL SCH, transmission DL-SCH SFI(SlotFormat Slot Format Indication N/A Indication)-RNTI on the given cell

The modulation scheme for the PDCCH is fixed (e.g., Quadrature PhaseShift Keying (QPSK)), and one PDCCH is composed of 1, 2, 4, 8, or 16control channel elements (CCEs) according to an aggregation level (AL).One CCE is composed of six resource element groups (REGs). One REG isdefined as one OFDMA symbol and one (P)RB. The PDCCH is transmittedthrough a control resource set (CORESET). The CORESET corresponds to aset of physical resources/parameters used to carry PDCCH/DCI within aBWP. For PDCCH reception, the UE may monitor (e.g., blind-decode) a setof PDCCH candidates in the CORESET. The PDCCH candidates representCCE(s) monitored by the UE for PDCCH reception/detection. PDCCHmonitoring may be performed in one or more CORESETs in an active DL BWPin each activated cell in which PDCCH monitoring is configured. A set ofPDCCH candidates monitored by the UE is defined as a PDCCH search space(SS) set. The SS set may be a common search space (CSS) set or aUE-specific search space (USS) set.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate an exemplary wireless communication systemsupporting an unlicensed band applicable to the present disclosure. Inthe following description, a cell operating in a licensed band (L-band)is defined as an L-cell, and a carrier of the L-cell is defined as a(DL/UL) LCC. A cell operating in an unlicensed band (U-band) is definedas a U-cell, and a carrier of the U-cell is defined as a (DL/UL) UCC.The carrier/carrier-frequency of a cell may refer to the operatingfrequency (e.g., center frequency) of the cell. A cell/carrier (e.g.,CC) is commonly called a cell.

When carrier aggregation is supported, one UE may use a plurality ofaggregated cells/carriers to exchange a signal with the BS. When one UEis configured with a plurality of CCs, one CC may be set to a primary CC(PCC), and the remaining CCs may be set to secondary CCs (SCCs).Specific control information/channels (e.g., CSS PDCCH, PUCCH) may betransmitted and received only on the PCC. Data may be transmitted andreceived on the PCC/SCC. FIG. 6A shows a case in which the UE and BSexchange signals on both the LCC and UCC (non-standalone (NSA) mode). Inthis case, the LCC and UCC may be set to the PCC and SCC, respectively.When the UE is configured with a plurality of LCCs, one specific LCC maybe set to the PCC, and the remaining LCCs may be set to the SCC. FIG. 6Acorresponds to the LAA of the 3GPP LTE system. FIG. 6B shows a case inwhich the UE and BS exchange signals on one or more UCCs with no LCC(standalone (SA) mode). In this case, one of the UCCs may be set to thePCC, and the remaining UCCs may be set to the SCC. Both the NSA mode andSA mode may be supported in unlicensed bands of the 3GPP NR system.

The signal transmission/reception operation in an unlicensed banddescribed in the present disclosure may be performed based on theabove-described deployment scenario (unless otherwise stated). Also, thedefinitions below may be applied to terms used herein.

-   -   Channel: May be composed of consecutive RBs in which a channel        access procedure is performed in a shared spectrum, and may        refer to a carrier or a part of a carrier.

Channel Access Procedure (CAP): Represents a procedure for evaluatingchannel availability based on sensing in order to determine, beforesignal transmission, whether other communication node(s) use a channel.Abasic unit for sensing is a sensing slot of duration T_(sl)=9 us. If aBS or a UE senses a channel for the sensing slot duration, and the powerdetected for at least 4 us within the sensing slot duration is less thanan energy detection threshold X_(Thresh), the sensing slot durationT_(sl) is considered an idle state. Otherwise, the sensing slot durationT_(sl)=9 us is considered a busy state. The CAP may be referred to asListen-Before-Talk (LBT).

-   -   Channel occupancy: Means the corresponding transmission(s) by        the BS/UE on the channel(s) after the CAP is performed.    -   Channel Occupancy Time (COT): Refers to the total time for which        the BS/UE and any BS/UE(s) sharing the channel occupancy may        perform transmission(s) on the channel after the BS/UE performs        the CAP. In determining the COT, when the transmission gap is 25        us or less, the gap period is also counted in the COT. The COT        may be shared for transmission between the BS and the        corresponding UE(s).    -   DL transmission burst: Defined as a set of transmissions from        the BS, with no gap exceeding 16 us. Transmissions from the BS,        separated by a gap exceeding 16 us, are considered DL        transmission bursts separate from each other. In the DL        transmission burst, the BS may perform the transmission(s) after        the gap without sensing channel availability.    -   UL transmission burst: Defined as a set of transmissions from        the UE, with no gap exceeding 16 us. Transmissions from the UE,        separated by a gap exceeding 16 us, are considered UL        transmission bursts separate from each other. In the UL        transmission burst, the UE may perform transmission(s) after the        gap without sensing channel availability.

FIG. 7 illustrates an exemplary method of occupying resources in anunlicensed band. A communication node (e.g., a BS, a UE) within theunlicensed band must determine whether the channel is used by othercommunication node(s) before signal transmission. To this end, thecommunication node in the unlicensed band may perform the CAP to accessthe channel(s) on which the transmission(s) is performed. The CAP may beperformed based on sensing. For example, the communication node mayfirst perform carrier sensing (CS) before signal transmission to checkwhether other communication node(s) are transmitting a signal. A casewhere it is determined that the other communication node(s) does nottransmit a signal is defined as confirming clear channel assessment(CCA). When there is a CCA threshold (e.g., X_(Thresh)) that ispre-defined or set by a higher layer (e.g., RRC), the communication nodedetermines the channel state as busy if energy higher than the CCAthreshold is detected on the channel. Otherwise, the channel state maybe determined as idle. When it is determined that the channel state isidle, the communication node may start transmitting a signal in theunlicensed band. In the LTE/NR system, the eNB/gNB or UE needs toperform LBT to transmit a signal in an unlicensed band. In addition,when the eNB/gNB or UE in the LTE/NR system performs signaltransmission, other communication nodes such as a Wi-Fi node, etc. needto perform LBT to avoid causing interference to the eNB/gNB or UE. Theabove-described series of processes may be referred to as LBT or a CAP.

In the description below, when it is said that the BS transmits a signalby succeeding in the CAP, it may mean that the BS transmits the signalin a corresponding unlicensed band (or unlicensed cell) determined to beidle by the CAP. On the other hand, when it is said that the BS failsthe CAP at a specific time point, it may mean that the BS is incapableof transmitting a signal because a corresponding unlicensed band (orunlicensed cell) is determined to be busy (e.g., occupied by anothercommunication node) at the specific time point.

Table 6 exemplarily shows the types of CAP.

TABLE 6 Type Explanation DL/ Type 1 CAP CAP with random back-off UL timeduration spanned by the sensing slots that are sensed to be idle beforea downlink transmission(s) is random Type 2 CAP CAP without randomback-off time duration spanned by sensing slots that are sensed to beidle before a downlink transmission(s) is deterministic

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a CAP operation for transmitting a downlinksignal through an unlicensed band of a BS. Referring to FIG. 8 , the BSfirst senses whether a channel is in an idle state for a sensing slotduration of a defer duration Td, and may then perform transmission whenthe counter N reaches 0 (S1234). Here, the counter N is adjusted bysensing the channel for additional sensing slot duration(s) according tothe procedure below:

Step 1) (S1220) Set N=N_(init). Here, N_(init) is a random valueuniformly distributed between 0 and CW_(p). Then, go to step 4.

Step 2) (S1240) If N>0 and the BS chooses to decrement the counter, setN=N−1.

Step 3) (S1250) Sense a channel for an additional sensing slot duration.Then, if the additional sensing slot duration is idle (Y), go to step 4.If not (N), go to step 5.

Step 4) (S1230) If N=0 (Y), terminate the CAP (S1232). Otherwise (N), goto step 2.

Step 5) (S1260) Sense a channel until a busy sensing slot is detectedwithin the additional defer duration Td or all sensing slots within theadditional delay period Td are detected as idle.

Step 6) (S1270) If the channel is sensed as idle for all sensing slotdurations of the additional defer duration Td (Y), go to step 4. If not(N), go to step 5.

Table 7 exemplarily shows that m_(p), the minimum contention window(CW), the maximum CW, the maximum channel occupancy time (MCOT) and theallowed CW size applied to the CAP vary according to the channel accesspriority class.

TABLE 7 Channel Access Priority Class (p) m_(p) CW_(min,p) CW_(max,p)T_(mcot,p) allowed CW_(p) sizes 1 1 3 7 2 ms {3, 7} 2 1 7 15 3 ms {7,15} 3 3 15 63 8 or 10 ms {15, 31, 63} 4 7 15 1023 8 or 10 ms {15, 31,63, 127, 255, 511, 1023}

The defer duration Td is composed of a duration of m_(p) consecutivesensing slot T_(sl) (9 us)+duration T_(f) (16 us). T_(f) includes thesensing slot duration T_(sl) at the start of the 16 us duration.

Specific Embodiments

For a UE, only a single carrier may be configured, or a plurality ofcarriers may be aggregated/configured in an unlicensed band. In thiscase, a maximum of four BWPs may be configured for each carrier, andonly one BWP may be activated. When a frequency band unit forming abasis of CAP in the unlicensed band is defined as a CAP-BW, eachcarrier/BWP may correspond to one CAP-BW or may a plurality of CAP-BWs.The size of one CAP-BW may be a fixed value or may be set differentlyaccording to the configuration of the network (or BS). For example, thesize of one CAP-BW may be fixed to 20 MHz or may be variably set withina carrier based on higher layer (e.g., RRC) signaling and/or DCI. Whenthe CAP-BW configuration information is not configured, the CAP-BWsize/deployment may follow a predefined value according to the frequencyregion of the carrier. The CAP-BW may be composed of consecutive RBs(hereinafter, an RB set). In the present disclosure, the CAP-BW and theRB set may have the same meaning.

FIG. 9 illustrates a case where CAP-BWs are configured in carriers.Referring to FIG. 9 , three component carriers (CCs) are configured. CC#1 may correspond to two CAP-BWs, and each of CCs #2 and #3 maycorrespond to one CAP-BW. CC #1/#2 may be defined as intra-band carrieraggregation (CA), and CC #1/#2 and CC #3 may be defined as inter-bandCA.

In this case, the BS may perform CAP for each CAP-BW and may transmit aDL burst in a (CAP successful) CAP-BW and skip transmitting a DL burstin other (CAP failed) CAP-BWs according to the results of the CAP. Inaddition, in a CAP-BW occupied for a predetermined time through the CAP,a portion of the occupancy time may be shared with the UL burst. Also,informing the UE of the frequency domain occupancy information about theBS may be advantageous in at least the following aspects.

-   -   The UE may perform power saving by skipping PDCCH monitoring in        a CAP-BW (e.g., CAP-BW OFF state) known not to be occupied by        the BS. Here, skipping PDCCH monitoring may include skipping        monitoring of a DCI format (e.g., DCI format 0_X, DCI format        1_X) for data scheduling. However, PDCCH monitoring for        receiving a group common DCI format (e.g., DCI format 2_0) in        the CAP-BW OFF duration may be exceptionally performed.    -   The UE may save power by skipping CSI/RRM (Radio Resource        Management)/RLM (Radio Link Monitoring) measurement in a CAP-BW        that is known not to be occupied by the BS. For example, when        the CSI-RS is configured to be transmitted in a CAP-BW OFF slot,        the UE may skip channel measurement based on the CSI-RS in the        CAP-BW OFF slot. Alternatively, the CSI-RS in the CAP-BW OFF        slot may be excluded from the channel measurement procedure.    -   For a CAP for UL burst transmission shared with a DL burst        occupied by the BS, UL transmission may be allowed if the        channel is idle only for a certain time without random backoff,        or may be allowed even without checking whether the channel is        idle/busy.

In the existing NR system, the DL/UL direction may be dynamicallysignaled through DCI. Specifically, SFI fields for a plurality of cellsmay be included in the DCI, and the SFI field position of a cell in theDCI bitstream may be determined based on an offset set for the cell. Forexample, suppose an SFI field corresponding to cell #1 is represented in3 bits and an SFI field corresponding to cell #2 is represented in 5bits. In this case, in the DCI for SFI indication having the total sizeof 100 bits, a section corresponding to cell #1 may be 3 bits from N1(e.g., N1=14) bits, and a section corresponding to cell #2 may be 5 bitsfrom N2 (e.g., N2=50) bits. N1 and N2 are set for each cell. The SFIfield includes an SFI-index. SFI-index corresponds to oneSlotFormatCombination, and SlotFormatCombination indicates the slotformat for K (=>1) consecutive slots. The slot format indicatesDL/UL/flexible for each symbol in the slot. K may also be setdifferently for each SFI-index. In the existing NR, the DCI for SFIindication may correspond to DCI format 2_0 as a group common PDCCH, andmay be scrambled with SFI-RNTI. The UE may perform communication in theslot based on the slot format. For example, in the slot, PDCCHmonitoring/reception, PDSCH reception, and/or CSI-RSreception/measurement may be performed in a DL symbol, and PUCCHtransmission, PUSCH transmission, and/or SRS transmission may beperformed in a UL symbol.

Table 8 exemplarily shows slot formats. Here, D denotes a DL symbol, Udenotes a UL symbol, and F denotes a flexible symbol.

TABLE 8 Symbol number in a slot Format 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 0D D D D D D D D D D D D D D 1 U U U U U U U U U U U U U U 2 F F F F F FF F F F F F F F 3 D D D D D D D D D D D D D F . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255  D DF F F U U U D D D D D D

Hereinafter, in the present disclosure, a method of notifying DL/ULdirection and/or frequency domain occupancy information is proposed.Specifically, in the present disclosure, a method of notifying DL/ULdirection information and/or frequency domain occupancy informationabout a BS for each CAP-BW (or each BWP/carrier, each CAP-BW/BWP/carriergroup) is proposed. The proposal of the present disclosure may belimitedly applied to carriers operating in an unlicensed band (or ashared spectrum band).

In the present disclosure, the DL/UL direction and/or frequency domainoccupancy information may be signaled through physical layer controlinformation (e.g., DCI). For simplicity, in the present disclosure, theDCI is referred to as channel occupancy-DCI (CO-DCI). The CO-DCI may beconfigured based on the existing DCI format 2_0. As an example, theCO-DCI may be defined in DCI format 2_0. In this case, in order toindicate CO-DCI information (e.g., DL/UL direction and/or frequencydomain occupancy information), a new field may be added to DCI format2_0 or some fields of DCI format 20 may be reinterpreted. In addition, anew group common DCI format may be defined for CO-DCI. Alternatively,the CO-DCI may be configured based on an existing UE-specific DCIformat. For example, the CO-DCI may be defined in an existingUE-specific DCI format. In this case, in order to indicate CO-DCIinformation, a new field may be added to the existing UE-specific DCIformat or some fields of the existing UE-specific DCI format may bereinterpreted. In addition, a new UE-specific DCI format may be definedfor the CO-DCI.

1) Receiver (Entity A (e.g., UE)):

[Method #1] Configuring an SFI Field for Each CAP-BW in the CO-DCI

For example, in the CA situation of FIG. 9 , N1 may be set for CAP-BW#1-1, N2 may be set for CAP-BW #1-2, N3 may be set for CAP-BW #2-1, andN4 may be set for CAP-BW #3-1, as shown in FIG. 10 . Thereby, the SFImay be indicated for each CAP-BW in the CO-DCI.

[Method #1-1] Configuring an SFI Field for Each CAP-BW in the CO-DCI,Wherein Specific CAP-BWs May Share the Same Offset Value

In FIG. 10 , the entirety or part of N1/N2/N3/N4 may be set to the samevalue. For example, CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 belong to the same carrier.Accordingly, on the assumption that the BS indicates the same D/Udirection for CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2, DCI overhead may be reduced byindicating the D/U direction of CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 through the same fieldin the CO-DCI. That is, the D/U direction (e.g., SFI field) may beconfigured for each carrier. However, since the ON/OFF (oravailable/unavailable) state of CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 may also be shared, theON/OFF state may not be indicated for each of the CAP-BWs. Suchsignaling configuration may implicitly indicate that the BS attempts toperform transmission only when the CAP is successful for both CAP-BW#1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2, which belong to CC #1, and otherwise, it does nottransmit the DL burst. In addition, setting the offsets corresponding toCAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 belonging to the same carrier to the same value maymean that RBs corresponding to a guard band present between CAP-BW#1-1/#1-2 are available (e.g., mapped/transmitted) (for, for example,PDCCH, PDSCH and/or CSI-RS transmission) (or may be interpreted asmeaning that the guard band is not configured).

Alternatively, a transmission mode related to a transmission method foreach CAP-BW of the BS may be separately configured. For example, it maybe separately signaled whether the mode is a mode (hereinafter, mode1)in which transmission is performed (in all CAP-BWs) only when the CAP issuccessful for all CAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP, or amode (hereinafter, mode2) in which transmission is attempted for someCAP-BWs when the CAP is successful for the some CAP-BWs among theCAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP. When mode1 is configured,the UE may assume that the SFI field is shared (i.e., the same offsetvalue is set or an offset value is set for each cell) for all theCAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP. When mode2 is configured,the UE may assume that the SFI field is configured for each CAP-BWbelonging to the carrier/active BWP (i.e., a separate offset value isset, or an offset value is set for each CAP-BW).

In [Method #1] and [Method #1-1], through a specific state of the SFIfield, it may be indicated that the CAP-BW(s) is OFF (that is, the BSdoes not attempt transmission due to CAP failure). As an example, whenthe SFI field is configured in 3 bits and is set to ‘000’, it mayindicate that the CAP-BW(s) corresponding to the SFI field is in an OFFstate. As another example, when SlotFormatCombination is not linked to aspecific state (e.g., SFI-index) of the SFI field, the state may beutilized to indicate the OFF state of the CAP-BW(s). The SFI field sizemay be determined by the set maximum number of SFI-indexes. When the SFIfield size is 3 bits, SlotFormatCombination may not be configured forsome of the 8 SFI-indexes. In this case, when the value of an SFI-indexfor which SlotFormatCombination is not configured is signaled, the UEmay recognize that the corresponding CAP-BW(s) is in an OFF state.

When the CAP-BW(s) is in the OFF state, the UL slot/symbol informationabout the CAP-BW in the ON state belonging to the same carrier/BWP orthe same band as the CAP-BW(s) may be passed on to the CAP-BW(s) in theOFF state. As an example, CAP-BW #1-1 may be signaled in the OFF state,but CAP-BW #1-2 may be signaled in the ON state (when separate SFIfields are configured for CAP-BW #1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2). In this case,for example, if all symbols of slot #k/k+1 are signaled as UL for CAP-BW#1-2 through CO-DCI, the UE may recognize that CAP-BW #1-1 is also ULfor slot #k/k+1. This is because it may be considered impossible toperform reception in an adjacent band while performing transmission inthe adjacent band, on the assumption that a BS operating in theunlicensed band generally operates through one radio frequency (RF)module. Accordingly, the UE may recognize that, during slot #k/k+1,PDCCH monitoring is not performed in either CAP-BW #1-1 or CAP-BW #1-2and configured UL transmission (e.g., periodic/semi-persistentPUCCH/SRS, configured grant PUSCH, etc.) is allowed.

The DL burst or the channel occupancy of the BS may be divided into twotime durations (for all cells configured in the unlicensed band or apart thereof). One is a duration (duration 1) within the first k slots,and the other is a duration (duration 2) after the first k slots. Here,k may be predefined as an integer greater than or equal to 1 or may beset by separate RRC signaling. The reason for dividing the DL burst orthe channel occupancy of the BS into two durations is that the BS doesnot know a CAP-BW in which the BS will actually succeed in CAP, and thusthe CAP-BW state information is uncertain in duration 1. Accordingly,even if CAP-BW ON is indicated, duration 1 may be treated similarly to acase where the CAP-BW is OFF. For example, the UE may perform PDCCHmonitoring in the same manner as in the duration in which the CAP-BW isOFF (e.g., the same as PDCCH monitoring before CO-DCI is discovered),and may not perform CSI measurement. On the other hand, in duration 2,it may be clearly determined whether the CAP-BW is ON or OFF accordingto the CAP-BW state information. Accordingly, in duration 2, the UE mayperform an operation according to CAP-BW ON/OFF. For example, when theCAP-BW is ON, the UE may perform PDCCH monitoring based on a scheme(e.g., search space set/DCI format) defined for the CAP-BW ON durationand also perform CSI measurement. For example, DCCH monitoring in theCAP-BW ON duration may include DCI format 0_X/1_X/2_0 monitoring. On theother hand, when the CAP-BW is OFF, the UE may perform PDCCH monitoringbased on a scheme (e.g., search space set/DCI format) defined for theCAP-BW OFF duration and may not perform (e.g., may omit/skip) CSImeasurement. For example, in the CAP-BW OFF duration, the PDCCHmonitoring may include DCI format 2_0 monitoring, but may not includeDCI format 0_X/1_X monitoring.

Accordingly, through the specific state of the SFI field, it may beindicated that the corresponding CAP-BW(s) (in the slot in which theCO-DCI is detected) belongs to the first slot of transmission (e.g., DLburst) or to the first k slot(s) in the time duration occupied by theBS. As an example, when the SFI field is configured in 3 bits and is setto ‘111’, it may indicate that the CAP-BW(s) corresponding to the SFIfield (in the slot in which the CO-DCI is detected) belongs to the firstslot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst. As another example, whenSlotFormatCombination is not linked to a specific state (e.g.,SFI-index) of the SFI field, the state may be utilized. The SFI fieldsize may be determined by the set maximum number of SFI-indexes. Whenthe SFI field size is 3 bits, SlotFormatCombination may not beconfigured for some of the 8 SFI-indexes. In this case, when the valueof SFI-index for which SlotFormatCombination is not configured issignaled, the UE may recognize that the CAP-BW(s) belongs to the firstslot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst (in the slot in which theCO-DCI is detected). Then, the UE may assume DL (for all cellsconfigured in the unlicensed band or a part thereof) during the firstslot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst. That is, in the slot(s) inwhich the CAP-BW(s) is recognized as belonging to the first slot (or thefirst k slots) of the DL burst, all symbols may be assumed to be DL.Accordingly, the UE may perform PDCCH monitoring on the assumption thatall symbols in the slot(s) are DL in the CAP-BW(s). In this method, inorder to update the slot format of the CAP-BW(s), the BS may transmitDCI format 2_0 again within the same DL burst. For example, uponreceiving SFI=111, the UE may recognize only that the CAP-BW(s) is thestart of the DL burst, and identify the slot format (e.g., D/U/F) in theDL burst/COT based on the updated SFI information, while monitoring thePDCCH as in the case where the CAP-BW(s) is outside the DL burst.

In addition, the DL burst or the channel occupancy of the BS may bedivided into two time durations (for all cells configured in theunlicensed band or a part thereof), and a search space set (or PDCCH)may be independently configured for each of the durations. For example,duration 1 may be defined as a duration within the first k slots in theDL burst or the channel occupancy of the BS (for all cells configured inthe unlicensed band or a part thereof), and duration 2 may be defined asa duration after the first k slots in the DL burst or the channeloccupancy of the BS (for all cells configured in the unlicensed band ora part thereof). Here, k may be predefined as an integer greater than orequal to 1 or may be set by separate RRC signaling. Specifically, whenit is signaled/recognized that the CAP-BW(s) belongs to the first slot(or the first k slots) of the DL burst (in the slot in which the CO-DCIis detected), the UE may monitor a PDCCH belonging to a specific firstsearch space set configured to be monitored for the correspondingduration (e.g., duration 1) (for all cells configured in the unlicensedband or a part thereof), or may monitor a specific first PDCCHconfigured to be monitored for the corresponding duration (e.g.,duration 1). On the other hand, when it is signaled/recognized that theCAP-BW(s) is in the ON state (in the slot in which the CO-DCI isdetected), but does not belong to the first slot (or the first k slots)of the DL burst, the UE may monitor a PDCCH belonging to a specificsecond search space set configured to be monitored for the correspondingduration (e.g., duration 2) (for all cells configured in the unlicensedband or a part thereof), or may monitor a specific second PDCCHconfigured to be monitored for the corresponding duration (e.g.,duration 2). Here, the specific first and second search space sets maybe different from each other. For example, the specific first and secondsearch space sets may have different PDCCH monitoring periodicities.Also, the specific first and second PDCCHs may be different from eachother. For example, DCI formats transmitted on the specific first andsecond PDCCHs may be different from each other. For example, the DCIformat transmitted on the specific first PDCCH may include a groupcommon DCI format (e.g., DCI format 2_0). Also, the DCI formattransmitted on the specific second PDCCH may include a DCI format fordata scheduling (e.g., DCI format 0_X/1_X) and a group common DCI format(e.g., DCI format 2_0).

Method #21 Configuring an SFI Field for Each CAP-BW in the CO-DCI andConfiguring a Bitmap for Indicating the ON/OFF State of Each CAP-BWThrough a Separate Field

In the CA situation as shown in FIG. 9 , N1 may be set for CAP-BW #1-1,N2 may be set for CAP-BW #1-2, N3 may be set for CAP-BW #2-1, and N4 maybe set for CAP-BW #3-1, as shown in FIG. 11 . Thereby, the ON/OFF stateand SFI may be indicated for each CAP-BW in the CO-DCI. While the SFIfield and the field indicating ON/OFF are illustrated in FIG. 11 asbeing consecutively positioned, a bit indicating the ON/OFF state may beadded after the SFI field, or a bitmap or bit-field indicating ON/OFFmay be configured through a separate offset value for each CAP-BW.

[Method #2-1] Configuring an SFI Field for Each CAP-BW in the CO-DCI andConfiguring a Bitmap for Indicating the ON/OFF State of Each CAP-BWThrough a Separate Field, Wherein Specific CAP-BWs May Share a SFI Fieldand/or a Bit-Field Value Indicating the ON/OFF State

In FIG. 11 , the entirety or part of N1/N2/N3/N4 may be set to the samevalue. For example, CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 belong to the same carrier.Accordingly, on the assumption that the BS indicates the same D/Udirection for CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2, DCI overhead may be reduced byindicating the D/U direction of CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 through the same fieldin the CO-DCI. That is, the D/U direction (e.g., SFI field) may beconfigured for each carrier. However, since the ON/OFF state of CAP-BW#1-1/#1-2 is also shared, the ON/OFF state may not be indicated for eachof the CAP-BWs. Such signaling configuration may implicitly indicatethat the BS attempts to perform transmission only when the CAP issuccessful for both CAP-BW #1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2, which belong to CC #1,and otherwise, it does not transmit the DL burst. In addition, settingthe offsets corresponding to CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 belonging to the samecarrier to the same value may mean that RBs corresponding to a guardband present between CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 are available (e.g.,mapped/transmitted) (for, for example, PDCCH, PDSCH and/or CSI-RStransmission) (or may be interpreted as meaning that the guard band isnot configured).

Alternatively, a transmission mode related to a transmission method foreach CAP-BW of the BS may be separately configured. For example, it maybe separately signaled whether the mode is a mode (hereinafter, mode1)in which transmission is performed (in all CAP-BWs) only when CAP issuccessful for all CAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP, or amode (hereinafter, mode2) in which transmission is attempted for someCAP-BWs when CAP is successful for the some CAP-BWs among the CAP-BWsbelonging to the carrier/active BWP. When mode1 is configured, the UEmay assume that the SFI field and the bitmap field are shared (e.g.,only 1 bit is configured for the bitmap field corresponding to the cell,and only one SFI field is configured) for all the CAP-BWs belonging tothe carrier/active BWP. When mode2 is configured, the UE may assume thata bit field in the bitmap is configured for each CAP-BW belonging to thecarrier/active BWP (that is, a bitmap field and an offset value for theSFI field are configured for each CAP-BW).

As another example, as shown in FIG. 12 , an offset value of N1 may beset in common for the SFI fields for CAP-BW #1-1/1-2/2-1/3-1. Inaddition, in the bitmap indicating the ON/OFF state, offset values ofN2/N3/N4/N5 may be set for each CAP-BW, or all or some of N2/N3/N4/N5may be set to the same value. If N2 and N3 are set to the same value,the ON/OFF state for CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 may also be shared, and thus theON/OFF state may not be indicated for each of the CAP-BWs. Suchsignaling configuration may implicitly indicate that the BS attempts toperform transmission only when the CAP is successful for both CAP-BW#1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2, which belong to CC #1, and otherwise, it does nottransmit the DL burst. In addition, setting the offsets corresponding toCAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 belonging to the same carrier to the same value maymean that RBs corresponding to a guard band present between CAP-BW#1-1/#1-2 are available (e.g., mapped/transmitted) (for, for example,PDCCH, PDSCH and/or CSI-RS transmission) (or may be interpreted asmeaning that the guard band is not configured).

As another example, as shown in FIG. 13 , for each CC (or BWP), a commonoffset N1 (with respect to the SFI field position) may be set, and abitmap indicating the ON/OFF state may be signaled through a k-bitbitmap after the offset value (or before the offset value, after the endof the field size configured after N1, after the field size configuredafter N1). Here, k may be equal to the number of CAP-BWs correspondingto the CC (or BWP), and may be less than or equal to the number ofCAP-BWs corresponding to the CC (or BWP). When k is less than theCAP-BWs, the value of k may be signaled separately. In addition, when kis less than the CAP-BWs, the relationship between each bit of the k-bitbitmap and the corresponding CAP-BW(s) may be preconfigured by the BS.When k=1, the ON/OFF state for CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 may also be shared, andthus the ON/OFF state may not be indicated for each CAP-BW. Suchsignaling configuration may implicitly indicate that the BS attempts toperform transmission only when the CAP is successful for both CAP-BW#1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2, which belong to CC #1, and otherwise, it does nottransmit the DL burst. In addition, setting the bit values correspondingto the ON/OFF states of CAP-BW #1-1-/#1-2 belonging to the same carrierto the same position may mean that RBs corresponding to a guard bandpresent between CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 are available (e.g.,mapped/transmitted) (for, for example, PDCCH, PDSCH and/or CSI-RStransmission) (or may be interpreted as meaning that the guard band isnot configured).

Alternatively, a transmission mode related to a transmission method foreach CAP-BW of the BS may be separately configured. For example, it maybe separately signaled whether the mode is a mode (hereinafter, mode1)in which transmission is performed (in all CAP-BWs) only when CAP issuccessful for all CAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP, or amode (hereinafter, mode2) in which transmission is attempted for someCAP-BWs when CAP is successful for the some CAP-BWs among the CAP-BWsbelonging to the carrier/active BWP.

When mode1 is configured, the UE may assume that the bitmap fieldindicating the ON/OFF state is shared for all CAP-BWs belonging to thecarrier/active BWP (that is, only 1 bit is configured for the bitmapfield corresponding to the cell). Alternatively, if a bit field in thebitmap is configured for each CAP-BW belonging to the carrier/active BWPwhen mode1 is configured, the UE may assume that only ‘1’ or ‘0’ issignaled in the bitmap. When mode2 is configured, the UE may assume thata bit field in the bitmap is configured for each CAP-BW belonging to thecarrier/active BWP (that is, an offset value for the bitmap field is setfor each CAP-BW).

In [Method #2] and [Method #2-1], the UE may recognize that thecorresponding CAP-BW is OFF if 1-bit information corresponding to eachCAP-BW(s) is ‘0’ (or ‘1’), and that the corresponding CAP-BW is ON ifthe information is ‘1’ (or ‘0’). When the CAP-BW(s) is in the OFF state,the UL slot/symbol information about the CAP-BW in the ON statebelonging to the same carrier/BWP or the same band as the CAP-BW(s) maybe passed on to the CAP-BW(s) in the OFF state. As an example, CAP-BW#1-1 may be signaled in the OFF state, but CAP-BW #1-2 may be signaledin the ON state (when ON/OFF information about CAP-BW #1-1 and ON/OFFinformation about CAP-BW #1-2 are signaled through separate bit-fieldsand the SFI field is signaled in common). In this case, for example, ifall symbols of slot #k/k+1 are signaled as UL for CAP-BW #1-2 throughCO-DCI, the UE may recognize that CAP-BW #1-1 is also UL for slot#k/k+1. This is because it may be considered impossible to performreception in an adjacent band while performing transmission in theadjacent band, on the assumption that a BS operating in the unlicensedband generally operates through one RF module. Accordingly, the UE mayrecognize that, during slot #k/k+1, PDCCH monitoring is not performed ineither CAP-BW #1-1 or CAP-BW #1-2, and that configured UL transmission(e.g., periodic/semi-persistent PUCCH/SRS, configured grant PUSCH, etc.)is allowed.

Alternatively, even if the CAP-BW(s) is signaled in the OFF state, theUE may recognize that the UL information on the SFI signalingcorresponding to the CAP-BW is valid. As an example, when CAP-BW #1-1 issignaled in the OFF state, and all symbols of slot #k/k+1 are signaledas DL and all symbols of slot #k+2/k+3 are signaled as UL for CAT-BW#1-1, the UE may recognize slot #k+2/k+3 as UL, ignoring SFI signalingin slot #k/k+1. In this case, the UE may recognize that PDCCH monitoringis not performed in CAP-BW #1-1 during slot #k/k+1/k+2/k+3, and thatconfigured UL transmission (e.g., periodic/semi-persistent PUCCH/SRS,configured grant PUSCH, etc.) is allowed during slot #k+2/k+3.

Alternatively, through a specific state of the SFI field and/or thebitmap field, it may be indicated that the CAP-BW(s) (in the slot inwhich the CO-DCI is detected) belongs to the first slot of transmission(e.g., DL burst) or belongs to the first k slot(s) in a time durationoccupied by the BS. Here, the value of k may be predefined as an integergreater than or equal to 1 or may be set by separate RRC signaling. As amethod, when all bits in the bitmap that correspond to all CAP-BW(s)corresponding to a cell in which the CO-DCI is transmitted signal OFF,it may be indicated that the CAP-BW(s) (in the slot in which the CO-DCIis detected) belongs to the first slot (or the first k slots) of the DLburst. It is contradictory that all CAP-BW(s) corresponding to the cellare OFF when the CO-DCI is transmitted from the cell. Accordingly, thistransmission may be used for the above-described signaling. That is,through the CO-DCI transmission, it may be indirectly indicated that theCAP-BW is ON. In addition, through the CAP-BW ON/OFF information, it maybe indicated that the CAP-BW belongs to the first slot (or the first kslots) of the DL burst. For example, when the CO-DCI is transmitted onCC #1, if all the ON/OFF information in the bitmap corresponding toCAP-BW #1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2 is OFF, it may be indicated that CAP-BW #1-1and CAP-BW #1-2 (in the slot in which the CO-DCI is detected) belong tothe first slot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst.

In addition, the CO-DCI may be transmitted on CC #A, and all the ON/OFFinformation corresponding to CC #A/B may be included in the CO-DCI(i.e., cross-carrier indication). At this time, since the CAP-BW ON/OFFinformation for CC #B is transmitted on the other CC (e.g., CC #A), itmay be ambiguous whether there is actual transmission by the BS on CC#B. Therefore, if all the CAP-BW(s) for CC #A are OFF, the UE may assumethat the DL burst has started even on CC #B (even if transmission isactually performed only on CC #A). On the other hand, if some or all ofthe CAP-BW(s) for CC #A are later updated to ON, information on CC #Bmay be recognized as a real OFF only when all the CAP-BW ON/OFFinformation for CC #B is OFF. For example, CO-DCI may be transmitted onCC #1, and all ON/OFF information corresponding to CC #1/2/3 may beincluded in the CO-DCI. In this case, the UE receiving CO-DCI in whichall ON/OFF information on the bitmap corresponding to CAP-BW #1-1/CAP-BW#1-2/CAP-BW #2-1/CAP-BW #3-1 is OFF may recognize that CC #2 and CC #3as well as CC #1 (in the slot in which the CO-DCI is detected) belong tothe first slot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst. Also, CO-DCI maybe transmitted on CC #2, and all ON/OFF information corresponding to CC#1/2/3 may be included in the CO-DCI. In this case, the UE receiving, onCC #2, the CO-DCI including bitmap information corresponding to CAP-BW#1-1=OFF, CAP-BW #1-2=OFF, CAP-BW #2-1=ON, and CAP-BW #3-1=OFF mayrecognize that any of CAP-BW #1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2 belonging to CC #1does not belong to the first slot (or the first k slots) of the DL burstbecause CC #2 does not belong to the first slot (or the first k slots)of the DL burst (in the slot in which the CO-DCI is detected).Accordingly, the UE may recognize that actual DL reception is notavailable in CAP-BW #1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2.

As an example, when the SFI field is configured in 3 bits and is set to‘111’, it may indicate that the CAP-BW corresponding to the SFI field(in the slot in which the CO-DCI is detected) belongs to the first slot(or the first k slots) of the DL burst. As another example, whenSlotFormatCombination is not linked to a specific state (e.g.,SFI-index) of the SFI field, the state may be utilized. The SFI fieldsize may be determined by the set maximum number of SFI-indexes. Whenthe SFI field size is 3 bits, SlotFormatCombination may not beconfigured for some of the 8 SFI-indexes. In this case, when the valueof SFI-index for which SlotFormatCombination is not configured issignaled, the UE may recognize that the CAP-BW(s) belongs to the firstslot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst (in the slot in which theCO-DCI is detected). Then, the UE may assume DL (for all cellsconfigured in the unlicensed band or a part thereof) during the firstslot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst. That is, in the slot(s) inwhich the CAP-BW(s) is recognized as belonging to the first slot (or thefirst k slots) of the DL burst, all symbols may be assumed to be DL.Accordingly, the UE may perform PDCCH monitoring on the assumption thatall symbols in the slot(s) are DL in the CAP-BW(s). In this method, inorder to update the slot format of the CAP-BW(s), the BS may transmitDCI format 2_0 again within the same DL burst. For example, uponreceiving SFI=111, the UE may recognize only that the CAP-BW(s) is thestart of the DL burst, and identify the slot format (e.g., D/U/F) in theDL burst/COT based on the updated SFI information, while monitoring thePDCCH as in the case where the CAP-BW(s) is outside the DL burst.

In addition, the DL burst or the channel occupancy of the BS may bedivided into two time durations (for all cells configured in theunlicensed band or a part thereof), and a search space set (or PDCCH) tobe monitored may be independently configured for each of the durations.For example, duration 1 may be defined as a duration within the first kslots in the DL burst or the channel occupancy of the BS (for all cellsconfigured in the unlicensed band or a part thereof), and duration 2 maybe defined as a duration after the first k slots in the DL burst or thechannel occupancy of the BS (for all cells configured in the unlicensedband or a part thereof). Here, k may be predefined as an integer greaterthan or equal to 1 or may be set by separate RRC signaling.Specifically, when it is signaled/recognized that the CAP-BW(s) belongsto the first slot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst (in the slot inwhich the CO-DCI is detected), the UE may monitor a PDCCH belonging to aspecific first search space set configured to be monitored for thecorresponding duration (e.g., duration 1) (for all cells configured inthe unlicensed band or a part thereof), or may monitor a specific firstPDCCH configured to be monitored for the corresponding duration (e.g.,duration 1). Alternatively, since it is uncertain whether CSI-RS istransmitted in the CAP-BW for the corresponding duration (e.g., duration1), the UE may not need to perform CSI measurement (or RRM/RLMmeasurement) through the CSI-RS that is configured to be transmitted forthe corresponding duration (e.g., duration 1). On the other hand, whenit is signaled/recognized that the CAP-BW(s) is in the ON state (in theslot in which the CO-DCI is detected), but does not belong to the firstslot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst, the UE may monitor a PDCCHbelonging to a specific second search space set configured to bemonitored for the corresponding duration (e.g., duration 2) (for allcells configured in the unlicensed band or a part thereof), or maymonitor a specific second PDCCH configured to be monitored for thecorresponding duration (e.g., duration 2). Alternatively, CSImeasurement (or RRM/RLM measurement) through a CSI-RS that is configuredto be transmitted for the corresponding duration (e.g., duration 2) maybe performed by the UE. Here, the specific first and second search spacesets may be different from each other. For example, the specific firstand second search space sets may have different PDCCH monitoringperiodicities. Also, the specific first and second PDCCHs may bedifferent from each other. DCI formats transmitted on the specific firstand second PDCCHs may be different from each other.

[Method #3] Method for Configuring Time Domain DL/UL Direction

The maximum channel occupancy time (MCOT) may be determined according toa priority class corresponding to the CAP performed by the BS (see Table7), and the BS may set a time less than or equal to the MCOT as a COTduration thereof. In this case, the BS may inform the UE of the COT thanor equal to the MCOT as a COT duration. Accordingly, the UE may performPDCCH monitoring configured outside the COT duration. For example,outside the COT duration, it is not known when the BS will transmit thePDCCH. Accordingly, monitoring may be performed very frequently, but maybe performed at a much slower tempo in the COT duration. Such monitoringmay be beneficial in terms of power consumption of the UE. In addition,the UE may distinguish between UL in the COT duration or UL outside theCOT duration. In the case of UL in the COT duration, it may bedetermined whether the channel is idle/busy only for a predeterminedtime period. When the channel is idle, UL transmission may be allowedwithout random backoff. Alternatively, UL transmission may be allowedafter a predetermined time without determining whether the channel isidle/busy. On the other hand, in the case of UL outside the COTduration, UL transmission may be allowed only when a randombackoff-based CAP is performed.

[Method #3-1] Explicitly Signaling COT Duration in CO-DCI

In the CO-DCI, the COT start slot index, and/or the COT last slot index,and/or the COT duration from a specific slot may be signaled through aseparate field. The field may be configured for each CAP-BW, for eachcarrier/active BWP, or for a group of CAP-BWs, a group ofcarriers/active BWPs, or an unlicensed band in common.

There may be a difference between a duration in which SFI information isapplied and the COT duration. For example, while the period formonitoring the CO-DCI is set to 4 slots, the COT information in theCO-DCI may indicate that the COT duration is 1 slot. In this case, theSFI information should include information about at least 4 slots, andhow the UE should interpret the SFI information indicated for theremaining 3 slots may be a challenge.

For example, when the SFI information of the SFI field corresponds to kslots and the time at which CO-DCI is received is slot #n, DL/ULinformation corresponding to slot #n to slot #n+k−1 may be signaledthrough the SFI information. In this case, the last slot index indicatedby the field indicating the COT duration may be after slot #n+k−1. Inthis case, the SFI information may be applied for the DL/UL informationcorresponding to slot #n to slot #n+k−1, but an assumption may berequired for DL/UL information after slot #n+k−1. Hereinafter, a methodassumed by the UE is discussed.

Opt 1) By applying the wrap-around scheme, a rule may be set such thatSFI information corresponding to slot #n+k corresponds to slot #n, andSFI information corresponding to slot #n+k+1 corresponds to slot #n+1.

Opt 2) A rule may be set such that SFI in slot #n+k−1 (or correspondingto the last symbol of slot #n+k−1) is repeated after slot #n+k−1.

Opt 3) A rule may be set such that specific SFI (e.g., all DL or all UL)is repeated after slot #n+k−1.

Opt 4) A rule may be set such that the UE does not expect theaforementioned case. Alternatively, the UE may expect to receive DL/ULinformation in the corresponding duration through reception ofadditional CO-DCI, and may apply one of Opt1 to Opt3 if it fails toreceive the information.

[Method #3-2] Implicitly Signaling the COT Duration Through aCombination of Specific SFIs in the CO-DCI

SFI information for slot #k may be duplicated/transmitted in slot #n andslot #m. Here, when SFI information corresponding to slot #k signaled inslot #n is A, and SFI information corresponding to slot #k signaled inslot #m is B, slot #k may be defined as the last slot of the COToccupied by the BS. As an example, A may be all DL and B may be all UL.

SFI information after the last slot index of the COT recognized through[Method #3-1] and/or [Method #3-2] may be present. As an example, theSFI information for CAP-BW #1-1 of CO-DCI received in slot #n may spanup to slot #n+k, but the last slot index of the COT indicated by theCO-DCI may be slot #n+k−2. In this regard, a method for processing theSFI information for slot #n+k−1 and slot #n+k is proposed.

Opt A) SFI information for slot #n+k−1 and slot #n+k may be ignored. Forexample, even when the UE receives the SFI information for slot #n+k−1and slot #n+k, it may be operated as if it did not receive the SFIinformation for slot #n+k−1 and slot #n+k.

Opt B) Only UL information in the SFI information for slots #n+k−1 and#n+k may be considered valid. In this case, the UE may not perform PDCCHmonitoring for the corresponding UL duration, and may recognize theduration as a UL duration outside the COT duration.

Opt C) The UE may not expect such a case to occur.

FIG. 14 illustrates a communication procedure according to an example ofthe present disclosure. Referring to FIG. 14 , the UE may receive groupcommon DCI including slot format information and channel occupancyduration information (S1502). Here, the slot format information maycorrespond to N slot formats. Each of the slot formats may correspond toa symbol configuration of a corresponding slot within N consecutiveslots, wherein N may be an integer greater than or equal to 1. Thechannel occupancy duration information corresponds to a channeloccupancy duration. The channel occupancy duration may include Mconsecutive slots, wherein M may be an integer greater than or equalto 1. The group common DCI may include CO-DCI (e.g., DCI format 2_0),and the CRC may be scrambled with a group common RNTI (e.g., SFI RNTI).Thereafter, the UE may determine a slot format for one or more slotsbased on the slot format information and the channel occupancy periodinformation (S1504), and may perform communication based on thedetermined slot format for the one or more slots (S1506). For details,refer to Methods #3/#3-1/#3-2.

For example, based on N being less than M, communication may beperformed on an assumption that the N slot formats sequentiallycorrespond to slots subsequent to an N-th slot in the channel occupancyduration (Method #3-1, Opt1). Also, based on N being less than M,communication may be performed on an assumption that the last slotformat of the N slot formats repeatedly corresponds to the slotssubsequent to the N-th slot in the channel occupancy duration (Method#3-1, Opt2). As another example, based on N being greater than M,communication may be performed only in the channel occupancy durationbased on the slot format information, while slot formats after an M-thslot format among the N slot formats are ignored (Method #3-2, OptA).Also, based on N being greater than M, communication may be performed onan assumption that only UL symbols are valid in the slot formats afterthe M-th slot format among the N slot formats (Method #3-2, OptB).

[Method #4] When CO-DCI is transmitted, carrier/active BWPs and/orCAP-BWs may be grouped. In this case, it may be regulated that theCO-DCI includes both SFI information and ON/OFF information on thecarrier/active BWPs and/or CAP-BWs belonging to the configured group,and the CO-DCI is transmitted on all carriers/active BWPs and/or CAP-BWsbelonging to the configured group.

[Method #5] Hereinafter, a description will be given of a method ofdetermining how long information on all or some RB sets of serving cell(index) #n, which is indicated to be available by DCI format 2_0received in slot #t, is valid when DCI format 2_0 is monitored onserving cell (index) #m (where m and n may be the same or different).Here, for serving cell (index) #n, an RB set indicator field (and/or asearch space set switching field) is configured, but an SFI field and achannel occupancy duration field are not configured. In the presentdisclosure, a CAP-BW may have the same meaning as an RB set. The RB setmay be configured on a carrier by RRC signaling, and if not configured,the RB set may be determined as a predefined value depending on thefrequency domain of the carrier.

Specifically, it may be regulated that the information is valid for apredetermined or predefined time duration (e.g., X slots (where X is 1or 2), the periodicity of a search space set associated with DCI format2_0, a duration of P symbols for which search space group switching isperformed) from a reference time point in slot #t in which DCI format2_0 is received (e.g., the ending boundary of slot #t, the startingboundary of slot #t, the starting boundary of slot #(t+1), the boundaryof a first/last symbol of received DCI format 2_0, or the boundary of afirst/last symbol of a CORESET to which received DCI format 2_0belongs).

In the NR-U system, the RB set indicator (or available RB set indicator)and the channel occupancy duration field (or COT duration indicator) areintroduced in DCI format 2_0 as shown in Tables 9 to 11.

TABLE 9 .3.1.3.1 Format 2_0 DCI format 2_0 is used for notifying theslot format, COT duration, available RB set, and search space set groupswitching. The following information is transmitted by means of the DCIformat 2_0 with CRC scrambled by SFI-RNTI: - Slot format indicator 1,Slot format indicator 2, ..., Slot format indicator N. - If the higherlayer parameter availableRB-SetPerCell-r16 is configured, - Available RBset Indicator 1, Available RB set Indicator 2. ..., Available RB setIndicator N1, If the higher layer parameter Co-DurationPerCell-r16 isconfigured - COT duration indicator 1, COT duration indicator 2. ...,COT duration indicatar N2. - If the higher layer parametersearchSpaceSwitching-r16 = “explicit” searchSpaceSwitchTrigger-r16 isconfigured - Monitoring group flag 1, Monitoring group flag 2, ...,Monitoring group flag [M]. The size of DCI format 2_0 is configurable byhigher layers up to 128 bits, according to Clause 11.1.1 of [5, TS38.213].

TABLE 10 11.1.1 UE procedure for determining slot format This clauseapplies for a serving cell that is included in a set of serving cellsconfigured to a UE by slotFormatCombToAddModList andslotFormatCombToReleaseList. If a UE is configured by higher layers withparameter SlotFormatIndicator, the UE is provided an SFI-RNTI by sfi-RNTI and with a payload size of DCI format 2_0 by dci-PayloadSize. TheUE is also provided in one or more serving cells with a configurationfor a search space set s and a corresponding CORESET p for monitoringM_(p,s) ^((L) ^(SFI) ⁾  PDCCH candidates for DCI format 2_0 with a CCEaggregation level of L_(SFI) CCEs as described in Clause 10.1. TheM_(p,s) ^((L) ^(SFI) ⁾⁾  PDCCH candidates at the first M_(p,s) ^((L)^(SFI) ⁾  PDCCH candidates for CCE aggregation level L_(SFI) for searchspace set s in CORESET p. For each serving cell in the set of servingcells, the UE can be provided: - an identity of the serving cell byservingCellId - a location of a SFI-index field in DCI format 2_0 bypositionInDCI a set of slot format combination byslotFormatCombinations, where each slot format combination in the set ofslot format combinations includes - one or more slot formats indicatedby a respective slotFormats for the slot format combination, and - amapping for the slot format combinaron provided by slotFormats to acorresponding SFI-Index, field value in DCI format 2_0 provided byslotFormatCombinationId - for unpaired spectrum operation, a referenceSCS configuration μ_(SFI) by subcarrierSpacing and, when a supplementaryUL carrier is configured for the serving cell, a reference SCSconfiguration μ_(SFI,SUI) by subcarrierSpacing2 for the supplementary ULcarrier

TABLE 11 - for paired spectrum operation, a reference SCS configurationμ_(SFI,DL) for a DL BWP by subcarrierSpacing and a reference SCSconfiguration μ_(SFI,UL) for an UL BWP by subcarrierSpacing2 - alocation of a RB set indicator field in DCI format 2_0 that is a bitmaphaving a one-to-one mapping with the RB sets [6, TS 38.214] of theserving cell, where a value of ‘0’ indicates that an RB set is availablefor receptions and a value of ‘1’ indicates that an RB set is notavailable for receptions, by availableRB- SetPerCell-r16. The RB setindicator field includes N_(RB,sets) bits where N_(RB,sets) is thenumber of RB sets in the serving cell. An RB set remains available orunavailable until the end of the indicated channel occupancy duration -a location of a channel occupancy duration field in DCI format 2_0, byCO-DurationPerCell-r16, that indicates a remaining channel occupancyduration for the serving cell starting from a slot where the UE detectsthe DCI format 2_0 by providing a value from CO-DurationList-r16. Thechannel occupancy duration field includesmax{[log₂(COdurationListSize)], 1} bits, where COdurationListSize is thenumber of values provided by CO-DurationList-r16. IfCO-DurationPerCell-r16 is not provided, the remaining channel occupancyduration for the serving cell is a number of slots, starting from a slotwhere the UE detects the DCI format 2_0, that the SFI-index field valueprovides corresponding slot formats - a location of a search space setgroup switching field in DCI format 2_0, by SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger-r16, that indicates a group from two groups of search space sets forPDCCH monitoring for scheduling on the serving cell as described inClause 10.4.

Each of the three fields may be configured independently. Herein, amethod or determining the validity of an RB set according to whether thethree fields are configured is proposed. When the validity of RB set(s)indicated to be available is determined as in Tables 10 and 11, if thechannel occupancy duration field is configured, the RB set(s) may bedetermined valid for a duration indicated by the channel occupancyduration field. If the channel occupancy duration field is notconfigured, the RB set(s) may be determined valid for a durationcorresponding to an indicated SFI index (for example, if the indicatedSFI index, SFI index #y contains SFI information on y1 slots, thecorresponding duration is the y1 slots). However, a method fordetermining the validity of RB set(s) when the RB set indicator isconfigured but both the channel occupancy duration field and the SFIfield are not configured has not been defined yet.

According to the proposed method, for example, four RB sets and the RBset indicator (i.e., 4-bit bitmap) may be configured for serving cell(index) #1, but both the channel occupancy duration field and the SFIfield may not be configured. In this case, information on serving cell(index) #1 may be transmitted in DCI format 2_0 associated with aspecific search space set configured on serving cell (index) #1. The UEmay attempt to receive DCI format 2_0 on a monitoring occasiondesignated for the corresponding search space set and receive DCI format2_0 in slot #n. If the RB set indicator indicates ‘1100’ (that is, thefirst and second RB sets in serving cell (index) #1 are valid), the UEmay determine that information on the availability of the RB sets isvalid for predetermined/predefined Z slots/symbols (the periodicityconfigured for a search space set associated with corresponding DCIformat 2_0; the value of P when search space group switching isconfigured as shown in Table 12; or the minimum/maximum of theperiodicity configured for the search space set associated withcorresponding DCI format 2_0 and the value of P) from slot #n (the lastsymbol of DCI format 2_0 received in slot #n, the starting/endingboundary of slot #n, or the starting/ending boundary of slot #(n+1)). Ifthe timeline after applying the configured/defined Z slots/symbols isnot aligned with the slot boundary, the UE may determine that the RB setinformation is valid to the nearest slot boundary after applying theconfigured/defined Z slots/symbols. If the RB set information is valid,it may mean that the UE needs to receive a DL signal such as a PDCCHand/or a CSI-RS that is confined in the first and second RB sets inserving cell (index) #1. Alternatively, it may mean that when the UEtransmits a UL signal scheduled or configured within a valid period(allocated to the frequency domain of the RB set indicated to beavailable) on the available RB sets (e.g., the first and second RB setsin serving cell (index) #1), the UE may perform the Type 2 CAP.

Whether the method is applied may be configured by additional higherlayer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling).

TABLE 12 10.4 Search space set switching A UE can be provided a groupindex for a respective search space set by searchSpaceGroupIdList-r16for PDCCH monitoring on a serving cell. If the UE is not providedsearchSpaceGroupIdList-r16 for a search space set, the followingprocedures are not applicable for PDCCH monitoring according to thesearch space set. If a UE is provided searchSpaceSwitchingGroupList-r16,indicating one or more groups of serving cells, the following proceduresapply to all serving cells within each group; otherwise, the followingprocedures apply only to a serving cell for which the UE is providedsearchSpaceGroupIdList-r16. A UE can be provided, bysearchSpaceSwitchingTimer-r16, a timer value. The UE decrements thetimer value by one after each slot in the active DL BWP of the servingcell where the UE monitors PDCCH for detection of DCI format 2_0. If aUE is provided by SearchSpaceSwitchTrigger-r16 a location of a searchspace set switching field for a serving cell in a DCI Format 2_0, asdescribed in Clause 11.1.1. and detects the DCI format 2_0 in a slot -if the UE is not monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets withgroup index 0, the UE stars monitoring PDCCH according to search spacesets with group index 0, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to searchspace sets with group index 1, on the serving cell at a first slot thatis at least P symbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCIformat 2_0, if a value of the search space set switching field is 0 - ifthe UE is not monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets with groupindex 1, the UE monitors PDCCH according to search space sets with groupindex 1, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to search space sets withgroup index 0, on the serving cell at a first slot that is at least Psymbols after the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCI format 2_0, andthe UE sets the timer value to the value provided bysearchSpaceSwitchingTimer-r16, if a value of the search space setswitching field is 1 - if the UE monitors PDCCH on a serving cellaccording to search space sets with group index 1, the UE startsmonitoring PDCCH on the serving cell according to search space sets withgroup index 0, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to search space setswith group index 1, on the serving cell at the beginning of the firstslot that is at least P symbols after a slot where the timer expires orafter a last symbol of a remaining channes occupancy duration for theserving cell thas is indicated by DCI format 2_0 If a UE is not providedSearchSpaceSwitchTrigger-r16 for a serving cell. - if the UE detects aDCI format by monitoring PDCCH according to a search space set withgroup index 0, the UE starts monitoring PDCCH according to search spacesets with group index 1, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to searchspace sets with group index 0, on the serving cell at a first slot thatis at least P symbols alter the last symbol of the PDCCH with the DCIformat, the UE sets the timer value to the value provided bysearchSpaceSwitchingTimer-r16 if the UE detects a DCI format bymonitoring PDCCH in any search space set - if the UE monitors PDCCH on aserving cell according to search space sets with group index 1, the UEstarts monitoring PDCCH on the serving cell according in search spacesets with group index 0, and stops monitoring PDCCH according to searchspace sets with group index 1, on the serving cell at the beginning ofthe first slot that is at least P symbols after a slot where the timerexpires or, if the UE is provided a search space set to monitor PDCCHfor detecting a DCI format 2_0, after a last symbol of a remainingchannel occupancy duration for the serving cell that is indicated by DCIformat 2_0

[Method #6] Hereinafter, it will be described which RB set(s) belongingto serving cell (index) #n the UE is capable of recognizing as availableRB set(s) based on DCI format 2_0 received in slot #t when the UEmonitors DCI format 2_0 on serving cell (index) #m (where m and n may bethe same or different). Here, for serving cell (index) #n, the RB setindicator (or availableRB-SetPerCell-r16) is not configured, but atleast one of the SFI field and the channel occupancy duration field isconfigured.

Specifically, Opt 1) it may be preconfigured/predefined that specific RBset(s) (index(s)) are available. Alternatively, Opt 2) when the numberof RB sets belonging to serving cell (index) #n (or active BWP in thecell) is 1 or when multiple RB sets are configured, the above-describedconfiguration may be allowed (i.e., the RB set indicator field oravailableRB-SetPerCell-r16 may not be configured) only if the number ofRBs corresponding to a frequency-domain guard band between thecorresponding RB sets is 0. When the UE determines the validity of RBset(s) determined to be available according to Opt 1 or Opt 2, the UEmay determine that the RB set(s) are valid for a duration indicated bythe channel occupancy duration field if the channel occupancy durationfield is configured. If the channel occupancy duration field is notconfigured, the UE may determine that the RB set(s) are valid for aduration corresponding to an indicated SFI index (see Table 10).

In Opt 1, a specific RB set (index) may be predefined as a k-th (e.g.,k=1) RB set in serving cell (index) #n, and specific RB set(s)(index(s)) may be configured by higher layer signaling such as RRCsignaling. In particular, Opt 1 may be (limitedly) applied when servingcell (index) #n corresponding to RB set information and serving cell(index) #m in which DCI format 2_0 is transmitted have different cellindices.

In Opt 2), when the number of RB sets belonging to serving cell (index)#n (or active BWP within the cell) is 1, or when the number of RBscorresponding to the frequency-domain guard band between thecorresponding RB sets is 0 even if multiple RB sets are configured, thecorresponding configuration may be allowed (i.e., the RB set indicatorfield or availableRB-SetPerCell-r16 may not be configured).Alternatively, only when Mode 1 described above is configured, thecorresponding configuration may be allowed (i.e., the RB set indicatorfield or availableRB-SetPerCell-r16 may not be configured).

In the proposed methods, if Mode 1 is configured, it may mean that thenumber of RBs corresponding to a frequency-domain guard band betweencorresponding RB sets is set to 0 even though a plurality of RB sets areconfigured for a specific serving cell. Alternatively, if Mode 1 isconfigured, it may mean that RRC signaling corresponding to a specificstate that there is no intra-carrier guard band is configured for acorresponding serving cell. In particular, Opt 2) may be (limitedly)applied when serving cell (index) #n corresponding to RB set informationand serving cell (index) #m in which DCI format 2_0 is transmitted havethe same cell index. That is, the UE may recognize that RB set(s) inserving cell (index) #n are available only by finding DCI format 2_0 inthe corresponding serving cell.

In Opt 1 or Opt 2, the unavailability of a specific RB set may need tobe signaled. For example, if the value corresponding to the channeloccupancy duration field is less than or equal to a specific value(e.g., the channel occupancy duration is zero symbols), or if the valueof slotFormatCombinationId corresponding to the SFI index is notconfigured, it may mean that all RB set(s) belonging to correspondingserving cell index #n are unavailable. If all RB set(s) belonging tocorresponding serving cell index #n are unavailable, it may mean thatthe UE does not need to receive a DL signal such as a PDCCH and/or aCSI-RS in serving cell index #n. Alternatively, if all RB set(s)belonging to corresponding serving cell index #n are unavailable, it maymean that the UE is incapable of performing the Type 2 CAP when the UEtransmits a UL signal scheduled or configured within a duration wherecorresponding RB set information is valid (allocated to the frequencydomain in a specific RB set indicated to be available).

[Method #7] Hereinafter, it will be described which RB set(s) belongingto serving cell (index) #n the UE is capable of recognizing as availableRB set(s) based on DCI format 2_0 received in slot #t when the UEmonitors DCI format 2_0 on serving cell (index) #m (where m and n may bethe same or different). Here, for serving cell (index) #n, all of the RBset indicator field, SFI field, and channel occupancy duration field arenot configured. In addition, there is proposed a method of determininghow long information on all or some RB sets of serving cell (index) #n,which is indicated to be available by DCI format 2_0 received in slot#t, is valid.

Specifically, which RB set(s) belonging to serving cell (index) #n theUE is capable of recognizing as available RB set(s) based on DCI format2_0 received in slot #t may be determined by [Method #6].

In addition, how long information on all or some RB sets of serving cell(index) #n that is indicated to be available by DCI format 2_0 (which isdetermined by [Method #6]) may be determined by [Method #5].

[Method #8] Hereinafter, a description will be given of a method ofconfiguring an RB set for a DL/UL carrier (or BWP) when Mode 1 isconfigured (as described above) and the bandwidth corresponding to onecarrier (or BWP) includes a plurality of CAP-BWs.

-   -   Opt 1: One RB set is configured for a DL carrier (or BWP), and        one RB set is configured for a UL carrier (or BWP)    -   Opt 2: One RB set is configured for a DL carrier (or BWP), and        as many RB sets as the number of CAP-BWs are configured for a UL        carrier (or BWP)    -   Opt 3: One RB set is configured for a DL carrier (or BWP), and        only one RB set is configured for each channel/signal for a UL        carrier (or BWP) (e.g., for a PUSCH, an SRS, etc.).        Alternatively, as many RB sets as the number of CAP-BWs are        configured (e.g., for a PUCCH, a PRACH, etc.).

In the proposed methods, a CAP-BW means a unit for performing the CAP onan unlicensed band (unlicensed spectrum or shared spectrum), which mayhave a bandwidth less than or equal to one carrier. The CAP-BW may bedefined in regulations for coexistence with other radio accesstechnologies (RATs) (e.g., Wi-Fi). In general, the CAP-BW may have abandwidth of 20 MHz. For example, when Mode 1 is configured and thebandwidth corresponding to one carrier (or BWP) is 40 MHz (i.e., whentwo CAP-BWs are included), one RB set may be configured for each DL/ULcarrier (or BWP) in the case of Opt 1. In the case of Opt 2, one RB setmay be configured for a DL carrier (or BWP) and two RB sets may beconfigured for a UL carrier (or BWP). In the case of Opt 3, one RB setmay be configured for a DL carrier (or BWP). In addition, for a ULcarrier (or BWP), one RB set may be configured for PUSCH allocation, andtwo RB sets may be configured for PUCCH allocation.

Opt 1 to Opt 3 proposed above may be applied in different ways dependingto which cell the options are applied.

-   -   Alt 1: Opt 1 (Opt 2 or Opt 3) is applied to any serving cell.    -   Alt 2: Opt 2 is applied to a PCell (PSCell or PUCCH-SCell), and        Opt 1 is applied to an SCell (SCell in which no PUCCH is        configured)    -   Alt 3: Opt 3 is applied to a PCell (PSCell or PUCCH-SCell), and        Opt 1 is applied to an SCell (SCell in which no PUCCH is        configured)

For reference, the terms related to cells used herein are defined asfollows.

-   -   Primary Cell (PCell): For a UE configured with carrier        aggregation (CA), a cell operating on a primary frequency, in        which the UE either performs an initial connection establishment        procedure or initiates a connection re-establishment procedure.        For dual connectivity (DC) operation, a master cell group (MCG)        cell, operating on the primary frequency, in which the UE either        performs the initial connection establishment procedure or        initiates the connection re-establishment procedure.    -   Secondary Cell (SCell): For a UE configured with CA, a cell        providing additional radio resources on top of Special Cell.    -   Primary SCG Cell (PSCell): For DC operation, a SCG cell in which        the UE performs random access when performing the        Reconfiguration with Sync procedure.    -   Special Cell (SpCell): For DC operation, the term Special Cell        refers to the PCell of the MCG or the PSCell of the SCG,        otherwise (i.e., non-DC operation) the term Special Cell refers        to the PCell.    -   Serving Cell (ServCell): For a UE in RRC_CONNECTED not        configured with CA/DC there is only one serving cell comprising        of the primary cell. For a UE in RRC_CONNECTED configured with        CA/DC the term ‘serving cells’ is used to denote a set of cells        comprising of the Special Cell(s) and all secondary cells.    -   PUCCH-SCell: For a UE configured with CA, a secondary cell        providing PUCCH transmission in addition to PCell.

In particular, if a PUCCH (and/or PRACH) is configured to be transmittedover a plurality of CAP-BWs, channel transmission may not be attemptedeven if one CAP-BW is busy. Therefore, to increase the transmissionprobability of a corresponding channel, the channel transmission may beconfined to one CAP-BW. Accordingly, when PUCCH resources are configuredas shown in Table 13, a specific RB set index may be allocated. Inaddition, if as many RB sets as the number of CAP-BWs are configured fora UL carrier (or BWP) composed of a plurality of CAP-BWs as in Alt 2 orAlt 3, it has the advantage of maintaining a configuration that confineseach PUCCH (and/or PRACH) to an RB set corresponding to one CAP-BW. Inthe case of the PUCCH, this may be applied only when interlace-basedtransmission is configured by an RRC parameter such asuseInterlacePUCCH-PUSCH-r16.

TABLE 13 A PUCCH resource includes the following parameters: - a PUCCHresource index provided by pucch-ResourceId - an index of the first PRBprior to frequency hopping or for no frequency hopping by startingPRB,if a UE is not provided useInterlacePUCCH-Dedicated-r16 - an index ofthe first PRB after frequency hopping by secondHopPRB, if a UE is notprovided useInterlacePUCCH-Dedicated-r16 - an indication for intra-slotfrequency hopping by intraSlotFrequencyHopping, if a UE is not provideduseInterlacePUCCH-Dedicated-r16 - an index of a first interlace byinterlace0, if a UE is provided useInterlacePUCCH-Dedicated-r16 - ifprovided an index of a second interlace by interlace1, if a UE isprovided useInterlacePUCCH-Dedicated-r16 - an index of an RB set byrb-SetIndex, if a UE is provided useInterlacePUCCH-Dedicated-r16 - aconfiguration for a PUCCH format provided by format, from PUCCH fprmat 0through PUCCH format 4, provided by format The UE expects that eithernone or both of useInterlacePUCCH-Common-r16 anduseInterlacePUCCH-Dedicated-r16 are provided If a UE is provideduseInterlacePUCCH-Dedicated-r16, the UE determines available RBs forPUCCH transmissions as the intersection of RBs corresponding to aninterlace index provided by interlace0 and, if provided, interlace1, andRBs of an RB set provided by rb-SetIndex. The intersection results inM_(interlace,0) ^(PUCCH) RBs in the first interlace and the UE expectsthat M_(interlace,0) ^(PUCCH) is either 10 or 11. If interlace1 isprovided, the intersection results in M_(interlace,1) ^(PUCCH) RBs inthe second interlace and the UE expects that M_(interlace,1) ^(PUCCH) iseither 10 or 11.

Similarly, if Alt 2 (or Alt 3) is applied to a PUSCH, resources may beallocated for each RB set index (as shown in Tables 15 and 16 below). Inparticular, in the case of the PUSCH, this may be applied only wheninterlace-based transmission is configured by the RRC parameter such asuseInterlacePUCCH-PUSCH-r16. Alternatively, if Alt 2 (or Alt 3) isapplied to the PUSCH, the UE may expect that even though a plurality ofRB sets are configured, actual PUSCH resource allocation corresponds toall RB sets in a corresponding UL BWP (for example, only a valuecorresponding to a resource indication value (RIV) for allocating all RBset indices in Tables 15 and 16 is allocated).

In the proposed methods, if Mode 1 is configured, it may mean that nointra-cell guard band is allocated for one serving cell (carrier or BWP)(as shown in Table 14 below). That is, the configurations ofintraCellGuardBandDL-r16 and intraCellGuardBandUL-r16 may indicate tothe UE that no intra-cell guard band is configured, which may mean Opt Aor Opt B below.

-   -   Opt A: It may mean that even if a plurality of RB sets are        configured for a corresponding serving cell (carrier or BWP),        the number of RBs corresponding to a frequency-domain guard band        between the corresponding RB sets is set to 0.    -   Opt B: It may mean that RRC signaling corresponding to a        specific state that there is no intra-carrier guard band is        configured for a corresponding serving cell (carrier or BWP).

Additionally, when a plurality of RB sets are configured as in Opt 2and/or Opt 3, it is necessary to clearly define the boundary between theRB sets.

When the configuration of a guard band includes the starting (common) RBindex and size of the guard band as in Opt A, if the size is set to 0,the UE may determine the boundaries of RB sets from each starting(common) RB index. For example, when a UL BWP with a bandwidth of 40 MHzis configured and the UL BWP consists of a total of 106 PRBs, if thestarting (common) RB index of a guard band is the 53rd index and if thesize is 0, the UE may recognize that first to 52nd RBs in the UL BWPbelong to RB set 0 and 53rd to 106th RBs belong to RB set 1.

Alternatively, when RRC signaling corresponding to a specific state thatthere is no intra-cell guard band is configured as in Opt B, the UE maydetermine the boundaries of RB sets by dividing a corresponding ULcarrier (or BWP) into equal (or almost equal) parts by the number ofCAP-BWs. For example, when a UL BWP with a bandwidth of 40 MHz isconfigured and the UL BWP consists of a total of 106 PRBs, the UL BWPincludes two CAP-BWs. Accordingly, the UE may divide 106 PRBs into twosets such that first to 53rd RBs in the UL BWP belong to RB set 0 and54th to 106th RBs belong to RB set 1. In general, when a UL carrier (orBWP) composed of K RBs includes N CAP-BWs, the first RB index (whereindexing starts from 0) of an n-th (where n=1, 2, . . . , N) RB set maybe obtained from ceiling {K*(n−1)/N} or floor {K*(n−1)/N}. In this case,ceiling {x} may mean the smallest natural number greater than or equalto x, and floor {x} may mean the largest natural number smaller than orequal to x.

Alternatively, when a plurality of RB sets are capable of beingconfigured as in Opt 2 and/or Opt 3, it may be configured that for a DLcarrier (or BWP), no intra-cell guard band is allocated as in Opt B, orit may be configured that for a UL carrier (or BWP), no intra-cell guardband is allocated as in Opt A.

In addition, if one RB set is configured for a DL carrier (or BWP) inOpt 1 to Opt 3, it may mean that the RB set indicator fieldcorresponding to the corresponding DL carrier (or BWP) is one bit.

TABLE 14 7 UE procedures for transmitting and receiving on a carrierwith intra-cell guard bands For operation with shared spectrum channelaccess, when the UE is configured with any of intraCellGuardBandUL-r16for UL carrier and intraCellGuardBandDL-r16 for DL carrier, the UE isprovided with N_(RB-set) − 1 intra-cell guard bands on a carrier, eachdefined by start and end CRB (alternatively, each may be configured bythe starting CRB index and size), GB_(s) ^(start,μ) and GB_(s) ^(end,μ),respectively. The intra-cell guard bands separate N_(RB-set) RB-sets,each defined by start and end CRB, RB_(s) ^(start,μ) and RB_(s)^(end,μ), respectively. UE determines RB₀ ^(start,μ) = N_(grid)^(start,μ), RB_(N) _(RB-set) ⁻¹ ^(end,μ) = N_(grid) ^(start,μ) +N_(grid) ^(size,μ) − 1, and the remaining start and end CRBs as RB_(s)^(end,μ) = GB_(s) ^(start,μ) − 1 and RB_(s+1) ^(start,μ) = GB_(s)^(end,μ) + 1. When the UE is not configured withintraCellGuardBandUL-r16, the UE determines intra-cell guard band andcorresponding RB-set according to the [default intra-cell GB patternfrom 38.101 corresponding to μ and carrier size N_(grid) ^(size,μ)].When the UE is not configured with intraCellGuardBandDL-r16, the UEdetermines intra-cell guard band and corresponding RB-set according tothe [default intra-cell GB pattern from 38.101 corresponding to μ andcarrier size N_(grid) ^(size,μ)]. For a carrier with intra- carrierguard bands, the UE does not expect to receive a BWP configuration byBWP-Downlink or BWP-Uplink partially overlapping with a RB-set. RB-setswithin BWP form a set S_(RB-sets) of cardinality N_(RB-set) ^(BWP). [Theconfiguration of intraCellGuardBandDL-r16 and intraCellGuardBandUL-r16can indicate to the UE that no intra-cell guard-bands are configured.]

TABLE 15 6.1.2.2.3 Uplink resource allocation type 2 In uplink resourceallocation of type 2, the resource block assignment information definedin [5, TS 38.212] indicates to a UE a set of up to M interlace indices,and for DCl 0_1 a set of up to N_(RB-set,) ^(BWP) contiguous RB sets,where M and interlace indexing are defined in Clause 4.4.4.6 in [4, TS38.211]. The UE shall determine the resource allocation in frequencydomain as an intersection of the resource blocks of the indicatedinterlaces and the indicated set of RB sets and intra-cell guard bandsdefined in Clause 7 between the indicated RB sets, if any. For μ = 0,the X MSBs of the resource block assignment information indicates to aUE a set of allocated interlace indices m₀ + l, where the indicationconsists of a resource indication value (RIV). For 0 ≤ RIV < M(M + 1)/2,l = 0,1, ... L − 1 the resource indication value corresponds to thestarting interlace index m₀ and the number of contiguous interlaceindices L(L ≥ 1). The resource indication value is defined by:    if (L− 1) ≤ |M/2| then       RIV = M(L − 1) + m₀    else       RIV = M(M −L + 1) + (M − 1 − m₀) For RIV ≥ M(M + 1)/2, the resource indicationvalue corresponds to the starting interface index m₀ and the set ofvalues l according to Table 6.1.2.2.3-1. Table 6.1.2.2.3-1: m₀ and l forRIV ≥ M(M + 1)/2. RIV − M(M + 1)/2 m₀ l 0 0 (0, 5) 1 0 (0, 1, 5, 6) 2 1(0, 5) 3 1 (0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8) 4 2 (0, 5) 5 2 (0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7)6 3 (0, 5) 7 4 (0, 5)

TABLE 16 For μ = 1, the X MSBs of the resource block assignmentinformation comprise a bitmap indicating the interlaces that areallocated to the scheduled UE. The bitmap is of size M bits with onebitmap bit per interlace such that each interlace is addressable, whereM and interlace indexing is defined in Clause 4.4.4.6 in [4, TS 38.211].The order of interlace bitmap is such that interlace 0 to interlace M −1 are mapped from MSB to LSB of the bitmap. An interlace is allocated tothe UE if the corresponding bit value in the bitmap is 1; otherwise theinterlace is not allocated to the UE. For both μ = 0 and μ = 1, the $Y = {\left\lceil {\log 2\frac{N_{{RB} - {set}}^{BWP}\left( {N_{{RB} - {set}}^{BWP} + 1} \right)}{2}} \right\rceil{LSBs}}$of the resource block assignment information indicate to a UE a set ofcontiguously allocated RB sets for PUSCH scheduled by DCI 0_1 and Type 1and Type 2 configured grant. The resource allocation field consists of aresource indication value (RIV_(RBset)). For 0 ≤ RIV_(RBset) <N_(RB−set) ^(BWP) (N_(RB−set) ^(BWP) + 1)/2 , l = 0, 1, . . . L_(RBset)− 1 the resource indication value corresponds to the starting RB set(RBset_(START)) and the number of contiguous RB sets L_(RBset)(L_(RBset) ≥ 1). The resource indication value is defined by;  if(L_(RBset) − 1) ≤ └N_(RB−set) ^(BWP)/2┘ then   RIV_(RBset) = N_(RB−set)^(BWP)(L_(RBset) − 1) + RBset_(START)  else    RIV_(RBset) = N_(RB−set)^(BWP)(N_(RB−set) ^(BWP) − L_(RBset) + 1) + (N_(RB−set) ^(BWP) − 1 −RBset_(START)) If transform precoding is enabled according to theprocedure in Clause 6.1.3, then the UE transmits PUSCH on thelowest-indexed M_(RB) ^(PUSCH) PRBs indicated by the frequency domainresource assignment information. M_(RB) ^(PUSCH) is the largest integernot greater than the number of RBs indicated by the frequency domainresource assignment information that fulfils the conditions in [4, TS38.211 Clause 6.3.1.4].

[Method #9] Hereinafter, a description will be given of a signalingmethod that allocates no intra-cell guard band for one serving cell(carrier or BWP), and a CAP method for the corresponding serving cell(carrier or BWP) will be described.

TABLE 17 7 UE procedures for transmitting and receiving on a carrierwith intra-cell guard bands For operation with shared spectrum channelaccess, when the UE is configured with any of intraCellGuardBandUL-r16for UL carrier and intraCellGuardBandDL-r16 for DL carrier, the UE isprovided with N_(RB-set,x) − 1 intra-cell guard bands on a carrier, eachdefined by start CRB and size in number of CRBs, GB_(s,x) ^(start,μ) andGB_(s,x) ^(size,μ) , provided by higher layer parameters startCRB-r16and nrofCRBs-r16, respectively. The subscript x is set to DL and UL forthe downlink and uplink, respectively. Where there is no risk ofconfusion, the subscript x can be dropped. The intra-cell guard bandsseparate N_(RB-set,x) RB sets, each defined by start and end CRB,RB_(s,x) ^(start,μ) and RB_(s,x) ^(end,μ) , respectively. UE determinesRB_(0,x) ^(start,μ) = N_(grid,x) ^(start,μ) , RB_(N) _(RB-set) _(−1,x)^(end,μ) = N_(grid,x) ^(start,μ) + N_(grid,x) ^(size,μ) − 1, and theremaining start and end CRBs as RB_(s,x) ^(end,μ) = GB_(s,x) ^(start,μ)− 1 and RB_(s+1,x) ^(start,μ) = GB_(s,x) ^(start,μ) + GB_(s,x)^(size,μ). The RB set s consists of RB_(s,x) ^(size,μ) resource blockswhere RB_(s,x) ^(size,μ) = RB_(s,x) ^(end,μ) − RB_(s,x) ^(start,μ) + 1.When the UE is not configured with intraCellGuardBandUL-r16, the UEdetermines intra-cell guard band and corresponding RB set according tothe [default intra-cell GB pattern from [S, TS 38.101-1] correspondingto μ and carrier size N_(grid,x) ^(size,μ)]. When the UE is notconfigured with intraCellGuardBandDL-r16, the UE determines intra-cellguard band and corresponding RB set according to the [default intra-cellGB pattern from [8, TS 38.101-1] corresponding to μ and carrier sizeN_(grid,x) ^(size,μ)]. For a carrier with intra-cell guard band(s), theUE expects N_(BWP,i) ^(start,μ) = RB_(s0,x) ^(start,μ), and N_(BWP,i)^(size,μ) = RB_(s1,x) ^(end,μ) − RB_(s0,x) ^(start,μ) + 1 where 0 ≤ s0 ≤s1 ≤ N_(RB-set) − 1 for a BWP i configured by BWP- Downlink orBWP-Uplink. Within the BWP i, RB sets are numbered in increasing orderfrom 0 to N_(RB-set,x) ^(BWP) − 1 where N_(RB-set,x) ^(BWP) is thenumber of RB sets contained in the BWP i and RB set 0 within the BWP icorresponds to RB set s0 in the carrier and RB set N_(RB-set,x) ^(BWP) −1 within the BWP i corresponds to RB set s1 in the carrier. [Theconfiguration of intraCellGuardBandDL-r16 and intraCellGuardBandUL-r16can indicate to the UE that no intra-cell guard-bands are configured.]

When a guard band (GB) is configured for a DL carrier or a UL carrier asshown in Table 17, k entries each consisting of {starting common RB(CRB) index, GB size} may be signaled from higher layers. The UE mayderive the starting and ending CRB indices corresponding to (k+1) RBsets from a combination of the k entries and the starting and ending CRBindices of the corresponding DL carrier or UL carrier.

FIG. 15 illustrates exemplary GB configuration related informationtransmitted through RRC signaling. Referring to FIG. 15 , GBconfiguration related information may include three entries for an 80MHz carrier consisting of a total of 217 RBs (with an SCS of 30 kHz),and the UE may receive the GB configuration related information throughRRC signaling.

Assuming that Table 17 is applied to FIG. 15 , when the first CRB indexof a carrier is N, the following may be derived from GB configurationrelated information received through RRC signaling: RB set 0 includesCRB indices N to (N+49), RB set 1 includes CRB indices (N+56) to(N+105), RB set 2 includes CRB indices (N+111) to (N+160), and RB set 3includes CRB indices (N+167) to (N+216). In this case, if the size of aspecific GB in the carrier is set to 0, the GB between RB sets may beset to be 0 RBs. To this end, the following options may be applied.

-   -   Opt 1: If the size of at least one GB between RB sets in a DL        carrier or UL carrier is set to 0, the UE may expect that the GB        size between all RB sets is set to 0.    -   Opt 2: If the size of at least one GB between RB sets in a DL        BWP or UL BWP is set to 0, the UE may expect that the GB size        between all RB sets is set to 0. In addition, if the size of        even one GB between the RB sets in the DL BWP or UL BWP is set        to be greater than 0, the UE may expect that the GB size between        all RB sets is set to be greater than 0.    -   Opt 3: It may be allowed that among GB sizes between RB sets in        a DL BWP or UL BWP, some are set to 0 and others are set to a        value greater than 0.

Referring to FIG. 16 , if the GB size for at least one entry for a DLcarrier or UL carrier is indicated as 0 in Opt 1, the UE may expect thatthe GB size for all entries corresponding to the DL carrier or ULcarrier is 0. In this case, the BWP configuration may be configured toaccurately include one or more RB sets as shown in Table 17, orrestrictions may be applied to the BWP configuration so that only a BWPwith the same band as the carrier is always configured.

For example, referring to FIG. 16 , when a band consisting of RB sets0/1/2/3 is operating as a UL active BWP, and when the UE performs ULtransmission in some of the RB sets, the UL transmission may be allowedonly if the CAP is successful for all RB sets. In other words, when theUE performs UL transmission in some of the corresponding RB sets, if theCAP fails for at least one RB set among all RB sets, the UL transmissionmay not be allowed. For example, when PUSCH transmission in slot #m isscheduled for RB set 0 and RB set 1, only if the CAP is successful forall RB sets 0/1/2/3, the PUSCH transmission scheduled in slot #m may beallowed.

Referring to FIG. 17 , it may be allowed that the GB size for someentries for a DL carrier or UL carrier is set to 0 and the GB size ofsome other entries is set to a value greater than 0 in Opt 2. However,when a BWP is configured for the corresponding DL carrier or UL carrier,the UE may expect that the GB size for all entries for the correspondingDL BWP or UL BWP is 0 or the GB size for all entries is greater than 0.For example, referring to FIG. 17 , if a specific DL BWP or UL BWPincludes either RB set 0 or RB set 1, the UE may expect that both RB set0 and RB set 1 are configured to be included in the corresponding BWP.That is, a configuration in which all RB sets 0/1 are included in theBWP may be allowed, and a configuration in which at least one of RB set2 and RB set 3 is included in the BWP may be allowed. On the other hand,a BWP configuration including only RB set 0 or a BWP configurationincluding RB sets 0/1 and RB set 2 (or RB set 3) together may not beallowed. For example, referring to FIG. 17 , the UE may not expect a BWPconfiguration consisting of only RB sets 1/2/3.

When a band consisting of RB sets 0/1 is operating as a UL active BWP,and when the UE performs UL transmission in some of the RB sets, the ULtransmission may be allowed only if the CAP is successful for all RBsets. In other words, when the UE performs UL transmission in some ofthe corresponding RB sets, if the UE fails the CAP for at least one RBset among all RB sets, the UL transmission may not be allowed. Forexample, when PUSCH transmission in slot #m is scheduled for RB set 0,only if the CAP is successful for all RB sets 0/1, the PUSCHtransmission scheduled in slot #m may be allowed.

Referring to FIG. 17 , a band of 80 MHz may be operating as a UL activeBWP in Opt 3. In this case, GB RRC signaling may indicate that the GBsize for the first entry is 0 and the GB size for the remaining entriesis greater than 0. When the UE performs UL transmission in some of theboth RB sets located at both ends of the GB set to 0, the ULtransmission may be allowed only if the CAP is successful for the bothRB sets. In other words, when the UE performs UL transmission in some ofthe both RB sets of the GB set to 0, if the CAP fails for at least oneRB set of the both RB sets, the UL transmission may not be allowed. Asan example, when PUSCH transmission in slot #m is scheduled for RB set0, only if the CAP is successful for all RB sets 0/1, the PUSCHtransmission scheduled in slot #m may be allowed. As another example,when PUSCH transmission in slot #m is scheduled for RB sets 1/2/3, onlyif the CAP is successful for all RB sets 0/1/2/3, the PUSCH transmissionscheduled in slot #m may be allowed. As a further example, when PUSCHtransmission in slot #m is scheduled for RB set 3, only if the CAP issuccessful for RB set 3, the PUSCH transmission scheduled in slot #m maybe allowed.

In addition, when Opts 1/2/3 are applied, the number of RBscorresponding to an interlace index configured as a PUCCH resource inany RB set may be 12 (or more). However, the interlace-based PUCCHresource defined in the NR-U system may include only 11 RBs or 10 RBs.Therefore, a rule for determining resource(s) used for actual PUCCHtransmission among the 12 (or more) RBs may be required. Specifically,for interlace-based PUCCH formats 0/1/2, if the number of RBscorresponding to an interlace index in an indicated RB set is 12 ormore, a PUCCH resource may consist of 11 RBs having the lowest (orhighest) PRB indices. In addition, for interlace-based PUCCH format 3,if the number of RBs corresponding to an interlace index in an indicatedRB set is 12 or more, a PUCCH resource may consist of 10 RBs with thelowest (or highest) PRB indices.

Alternatively, when Opts 1/2/3 are applied, restrictions may be appliedto signaling of the starting CRB index (and GB size) for each RB setsuch that the number of RBs corresponding to an interlace indexconfigured as a PUCCH resource in any RB set does not exceed 12 (ormore). In other words, when the UE derives RB set resources based onGB-related RRC signaling, the UE may expect that a PUCCH resourcecorresponding to any RB set does not include more than 12 RBs.

[Method #10] When monitoring of DCI format 2_0 is configured, thefollowing four fields may be configured for NR-U cells (for each cell).

-   -   Slot format indicator (SFI) field    -   Channel occupancy duration field    -   RB set indicator field    -   Search space set switching field

When monitoring of DCI format 2_0 including the channel occupancyduration field is configured without the SFI field, the followingoperations: DL reception and UL transmission within the remaining COTduration indicated by the channel occupancy duration field may beunclear. In the existing NR operation, for reception of a DLsignal/channel (e.g., SPS PDSCH, periodic CSI-RS, semi-persistentCSI-RS, etc.) configured by higher layer signaling (e.g., RRCsignaling), if DCI format 2_0 is configured, the DL signal/channelreception is allowed only when DL is indicated by corresponding DCIformat 2_0. However, when monitoring of DCI format 2_0 including thechannel occupancy duration field is configured without the SFI field,whether reception of a DL signal/channel configured by higher layersignaling is allowed may be unclear.

As one method, whether reception of DL signals/channels configured byhigher layer signaling and transmission of UL signals/channelsconfigured by higher layer signaling are allowed within the remainingCOT duration indicated by DCI format 2_0 may be determined in the sameway as when DCI format 2_0 is not configured. That is, if a ULsignal/channel is indicated by a PDCCH or UL is not configured by RRCsignaling for all or some symbols of DL signals/channels configured tobe received by higher layer signaling, the UE may receive thecorresponding DL signals/channels within the remaining COT duration. Inaddition, if a DL signal/channel is indicated by a PDCCH or DL is notconfigured by RRC signaling for all or some symbols of ULsignals/channels configured to be transmitted by higher layer signaling,the UE may transmit the corresponding UL signals/channels within theremaining COT duration. However, it may be difficult for the BS toalways guarantee the resources of the corresponding DL signals/channelsor UL signals/channels within the COT duration. In addition, the BS mayneed to transmit a PDCCH for scheduling related resources to canceltransmission and reception of the corresponding signals/channels.

To solve the above problem, whether DL signals/channels configured to bereceived by higher layer signaling are received within the remaining COTduration may be explicitly signaled in DCI format 2_0. Specifically, theexplicit signaling may be provided by an additional 1-bit field of DCIformat 2_0. For example, if the additional 1-bit field value is ‘1’ (or‘0’), the UE may receive DL signals/channels configured to be receivedby higher layer signaling within the remaining COT duration indicated bythe channel occupancy duration field. On the other hand, if theadditional 1-bit field value is ‘0’ (or ‘1’), the UE may not receive DLsignals/channels configured to be received by higher layer signalingwithin the remaining COT duration indicated by the channel occupancyduration field.

In addition, whether UL signals/channels (e.g., configured grant PUSCH,periodic SRS, semi-persistent SRS, etc.) configured to be transmitted byhigher layer signaling are transmitted within the remaining COT durationmay be explicitly signaled in DCI format 2_0. For example, when theadditional 1-bit field value is ‘1’ (or ‘0’), the UE may transmit ULsignals/channels configured to be transmitted by higher layer signalingwithin the remaining COT duration indicated by the channel occupancyduration field (if the CAP is successful). On the other hand, when theadditional 1-bit field value is ‘0’ (or ‘1’), the UE may not transmit ULsignals/channels configured to be transmitted by higher layer signalingwithin the remaining COT duration indicated by the channel occupancyduration field (or the UE may not perform the corresponding CAP).

Alternatively, whether DL signals/channels configured to be received byhigher layer signaling and UL signals/channels configured to betransmitted by higher layer signaling are transmitted/received withinthe remaining COT duration may be signaled explicitly and simultaneouslyby the additional 1-bit field of DCI format 2_0. Specifically, if theadditional 1-bit field value is ‘1’ (or ‘0’), the UE maytransmit/receive DL and UL signals/channels configured by higher layersignaling within the remaining COT duration indicated by the channeloccupancy duration field. On the other hand, if the additional 1-bitfield value is ‘0’ (or ‘1’), the UE may not transmit/receive DL and ULsignals/channels configured by higher layer signaling within theremaining COT duration indicated by the channel occupancy durationfield.

In the present disclosure, when it is said that DL or ULsignals/channels configured to be transmitted and received by higherlayer signaling are included in the remaining COT duration, it may meanthat when the corresponding DL or UL signals/channels are configuredwith a set of symbols or slots, the corresponding symbol or slot set isincluded within the remaining COT duration.

[Method #11] When monitoring of DCI format 20 is configured, thefollowing four fields may be configured for NR-U cells (for each cell).

-   -   SFI field    -   Channel occupancy duration field    -   RB set indicator field    -   Search space set switching field

When monitoring of DCI format 2_0 including the RB set indicator fieldand/or the search set spatial set switching field is configured withoutthe SFI field and the channel occupancy duration field, it may bedifficult to determine the remaining COT duration, and the followingoperations: DL reception and UL transmission within the remaining COTduration may be unclear. In this case, the remaining COT duration may bedetermined according to [Method #5] proposed above. Alternatively, whenframe based equipment (FBE) is configured (that is, when the higherlayer (e.g., RRC) parameter ChannelAccessMode-r16 is semi-staticallyconfigured), the remaining COT duration may be defined by the maximumCOT, T_(y)=0.95T_(x). In this case, T_(x) denotes a period (in units ofmsec), and the period is configured by a higher layer parameter, whichmay be set to one of {1, 2, 2.5, 4, 5, 10} msec. That is, the maximumCOT may be from the starting time of every period to T_(y).Specifically, the remaining COT duration may be defined from a slot inwhich DCI format 2_0 is found to T_(y).

As one method, whether reception and transmission of DL signals/channelsconfigured to be received by higher layer signaling and ULsignals/channels configured to be transmitted by higher layer signalingare allowed within the remaining COT duration, which isdetermined/defined as above, may be determined in the same way as whenDCI format 2_0 is not configured in conventional NR. That is, if a ULsignal/channel is indicated by a PDCCH or UL is not configured by RRCsignaling for all or some symbols of DL signals/channels configured tobe received by higher layer signaling, the UE may receive thecorresponding DL signals/channels within the remaining COT duration. Inaddition, if a DL signal/channel is indicated by a PDCCH or DL is notconfigured by RRC signaling for all or some symbols of ULsignals/channels configured to be transmitted by higher layer signaling,the UE may transmit the corresponding UL signals/channels within theremaining COT duration. However, it may be difficult for the BS toalways guarantee the resources of the corresponding DL signals/channelsor UL signals/channels within the COT duration. In addition, the BS mayneed to transmit a PDCCH for scheduling related resources to canceltransmission and reception of the corresponding signals/channels.

To solve the above problem, whether DL signals/channels configured to bereceived by higher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling) are receivedwithin the remaining COT duration may be explicitly signaled in DCIformat 2_0. Specifically, the explicit signaling may be provided by theadditional 1-bit field of DCI format 2_0. For example, if the additional1-bit field value is ‘1’ (or ‘0’), the UE may receive DLsignals/channels configured to be received by higher layer signalingwithin the remaining COT duration determined/defined as above. On theother hand, if the additional 1-bit field value is ‘0’ (or ‘1’), the UEmay not receive DL signals/channels configured to be received by higherlayer signaling within the remaining COT duration determined/defined asabove.

In addition, whether UL signals/channels (e.g., configured grant PUSCH,periodic SRS, semi-persistent SRS, etc.) configured to be transmitted byhigher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling) are transmitted within theremaining COT duration may be explicitly signaled in DCI format 2_0.Specifically, the explicit signaling may be provided by the additional1-bit field of DCI format 2_0. For example, when the additional 1-bitfield value is ‘1’ (or ‘0’), the UE may transmit UL signals/channelsconfigured to be transmitted by higher layer signaling within theremaining COT duration determined/defined as above (if the CAP issuccessful). On the other hand, when the additional 1-bit field value is‘0’ (or ‘1’), the UE may not transmit UL signals/channels configured tobe transmitted by higher layer signaling within the remaining COTduration determined/defined as above (or the UE may not perform thecorresponding CAP).

Alternatively, whether DL signals/channels configured to be received byhigher layer signaling and UL signals/channels configured to betransmitted by higher layer signaling are transmitted/received withinthe remaining COT duration may be signaled explicitly and simultaneouslyby the additional 1-bit field of DCI format 2_0. Specifically, if theadditional 1-bit field value is ‘1’ (or ‘0’), the UE maytransmit/receive DL and UL signals/channels configured by higher layersignaling within the remaining COT duration determined/defined as above.On the other hand, if the additional 1-bit field value is ‘0’ (or ‘1’),the UE may not transmit/receive DL and UL signals/channels configured byhigher layer signaling within the remaining COT durationdetermined/defined as above.

[Method #12] When monitoring of DCI format 2_0 is configured, thefollowing four fields may be configured for NR-U cells (for each cell).

-   -   SFI field    -   Channel occupancy duration field    -   RB set indicator field    -   Search space set switching field

When the UE performs channel measurement, the UE may perform the channelmeasurement by performing averaging for a plurality of CSI-RSs.Specifically, when a plurality of CSI-RSs are received from the BS, theUE may measure a channel based on the average value of the plurality ofCSI-RSs. For example, the UE may measure a channel based on the averagevalue of received power for a plurality of CSI-RSs, but the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto. Alternatively, the UE may measure theamount of interference based on the average value of the amount of powerreceived in a plurality of CSI-RS resources, but the present disclosureis not limited thereto. For example, the UE may measure the interferenceamount or interference strength based on the average received power in aplurality of CSI-RS resources received for interference measurement.However, the transmission power for each carrier/BWP/RB set may varydepending on whether the BS succeeds in the CAP for each carrier/BWP/RBset, and it may be difficult to accurately measure a channel if thechannel is measured based on the average value of CSI-RSs transmittedwith different transmission power. For example, when the maximum outputpower in a 5 GHz band is limited to 23 dBm by regulations, if the BSperforms transmission in a 40 MHz band, the output power for each 20 MHzband may be 20 dBm. If the BS performs transmission in a 20 MHz band,the output power for the 20 MHz band may be 23 dBm. In this case, if achannel is measured based on the average value of a CSI-RS transmittedwith the 20 dBm power and a CSI-RS transmitted with the 23 dBm power, itmay be difficult to accurately measure the channel. Therefore, the UEneeds to measure a channel based on CSI-RSs transmitted with the sametransmission power to accurately measure the channel. However, since itmay be difficult for the UE to know the occupied bandwidth and outputpower of the BS, the UE may perform averaging only for a plurality ofCSI-RSs belonging to one DL transmission burst (or DL burst) in whichthe same transmission power is maintained. In other words, since it isdifficult to expect that the same transmission power will be maintainedbetween different DL transmission bursts, averaging may not be allowedbetween CSI-RSs belonging to different DL transmission bursts whenchannel measurement (or CSI measurement) is performed. However, when theSFI field and the channel occupancy duration field are not configured(or when monitoring of DCI format 2_0 is not configured), it may bedifficult for the UE to identify different DL transmission bursts in acorresponding cell. Accordingly, the present disclosure proposes methodsfor solving the above-described problem. In the proposed methods, thechannel occupancy duration field may be referred to as a COT indicatorfield, or the channel occupancy duration field may be referred to as aCOT duration field in some embodiment. In addition, each of a pluralityof CSI-RSs used for channel measurement may be a periodic CSI-RS or asemi-persistent CSI-RS.

Specifically, according to the proposed methods, when channelmeasurement (and/or interference measurement) is performed, averagingmay not be allowed between CSI-RSs that are determined not to beincluded in the same DL transmission burst (or determined not to be in aduration where the same power is maintained). That is, when the UEperforms channel measurement and/or interference measurement, averagingmay not be allowed between CSI-RSs determined to be included indifferent DL transmission bursts.

In an embodiment, the UE may expect thattimeRestrictionForChannelMeasurements (ortimeRestrictionForinterferenceMeasurements) is always configured for acorresponding cell. That is, when the SFI field and the channeloccupancy duration field are not configured (or when monitoring of DCIformat 2_0 is not configured), it may be difficult for the UE todetermine the presence of the same DL transmission burst because the UEis incapable of receiving information on the channel occupancy duration.Accordingly, the UE may perform channel measurement (and/or interferencemeasurement) only within a specific slot by assuming that the power ofthe BS may vary for each slot.

TABLE 18 5.2.2.1 Channel quality indicator (CQI) The CQO indices andtheir interpretations are given in Table 5.2.2.1-2 or Table 5.2.2.1-4for reporting CQI based on QPSK 16QAM and 64QAM. The CQI indices andtheir interpretations are given in Table 5.2.2.1-3 for reporting CQIbased on QPSK, 16QAM, 64QAM and 256QAM. Based on an unrestrictedobservation interval in time unless specified otherwise in this Clause,and an unrestricted observation interval in frequency, the UE shallderive for each CQI value reported in uplink slot n the highest CQIindex which satisfies the following condition: - A single PDSCHtransport block with a combination of modulation scheme, target coderate and transport block size corresponding to the CQI index, andoccupying a group of dowlink physical resource blocks termed the CSIreference resource, could be received with a transport block errorprobability not exceeding: - 0.1, if the higher layer parametercqi-Table in CSI-ReportConfig configures ‘table1’ (corresponding toTable 5.2.2.1-2), or ‘table2’ (corresponding to Table 5.2.2.1-3), or -0.00001, if the higher layer parameter cqi-Table in CSI-ReportConfigconfigures ‘table3’' (corresponding to Table 5.2.2.1-4). If a UE is notconfigured with higher layer parametertimeRestrictionForChannelMeasurements, the UE shall derive the channelmeasurements for computing CSI value reported in uplink slot n based ononly the NZP CSI RS, no later than the CSI reference resource, (definedin TS 38.211[4]) associated with the CSI resource setting. If a UE isconfigured with higher layer parametertimeRestrictionForChannelMeasurements in CSI-ReportConfig, the UE shallderive the channel measuresents for computing CSI reported in uplinkslot n based on only the most recent, no later than the CSI referenceresource occasion of NZP CSI-RS (defined in [4, TS 38.211]) associatedwith the CSI resource setting. If a UE is not configured with higherlayer parameter timeRestrictionForInterferenceMeasurements, the UE shallderive the interference measurements for computing CSI value reported inuplink slot n based on only the CSI-IM and/or NZP CSI-RS forinterference measurement no later than the CSI reference resourceassociated with the CSI resource setting. If a UE is configured withhigher layer parameter timeRestrictionForInterferenceMeasurements in CSIReportConfig, the UE shall derive the interference measurements forcomputing the CSI value reported in uplink slot n based on the mostrecent, no later than the CSI reference resource, occasion of CSI-IMand/or NZP CSI-RS for interference measurement (defined in [4, TS38.2[1]) associated with the CSI resource setting.

In another embodiment, when monitoring of DCI format 2_0 is configured,but when the SFI field and the channel occupancy duration field are notconfigured, the UE may determine that the remaining COT durationdetermined by the method proposed above is the same DL transmissionburst (or determine that the same power is maintained for the remainingCOT duration).

In another embodiment, when the SFI field and the channel occupancyduration field are not configured, if a specific RRC parameter (e.g.,CSI-RS-ValidationWith-DCI-r16) is configured as shown in Table 19, theUE may determine (or recognize) that only periodic or semi-persistentCSI-RSs that fully overlap with a scheduled PDSCH and/or triggeredaperiodic CSI-RSs are valid. The UE may determine that periodic orsemi-persistent CSI-RSs that do not fully overlap with the scheduledPDSCH and/or triggered aperiodic CSI-RSs are invalid and may not receivethe corresponding periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RSs. Accordingly, theUE may not perform averaging for the periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RSsthat do not fully overlap with the scheduled PDSCH and/or triggeredaperiodic CSI-RSs during channel measurement. In this case, only whenthe scheduled PDSCH and/or triggered aperiodic CSI-RSs are continuous inthe time domain without a gap, the UE may recognize the correspondingcontinuous time resource duration as the same DL transmission burst(i.e., a duration where the same power is maintained). That is, when theUE performs channel measurement, if the scheduled PDSCH and/or triggeredaperiodic CSI-RSs are continuous in the time domain without gaps, the UEmay determine that the continuous time duration including the scheduledPDSCH and/or triggered aperiodic CSI-RSs is the same DL transmissionburst and then perform averaging for a plurality of CSI-RSs belonging tothe same DL transmission burst. For example, when the UE receives ascheduled PDSCH and triggered aperiodic CSI-RSs and when the PDSCH andaperiodic CSI-RSs are continuous in the time domain without gaps, the UEmay determine that the continuous time duration including the PDSCH andaperiodic CSI-RSs is the same DL transmission burst.

TABLE 19 For operation with shared spectrum channel access, if a UE isprovided CSI-RS-ValidationWith-DCI-r16, is not providedCO-DurationPerCell-r16. and is not provided SlotFormtIndicator, and ifthe UE is configured by higher layers to receive a CSI-RS in a set ofsymbols of a slot the UE cancels the CSI-RS reception in the set ofsymbols of the slot if the UE does not detect a DCI format indicating anaperiodic CSI-RS reception or scheduling a PDSCH reception in the set ofsymbols of the slot.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating operations of a UE according to aproposed embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 18 , based on a failure to obtain information on achannel occupancy duration from a BS, the UE may obtain CSI based on aplurality of CSI-RSs fully overlapping with at least one of a PDSCHresource and an aperiodic CSI-RS resource (S1800). In this case, thefailure to obtain the information on the channel occupancy duration fromthe BS may mean that the UE receives group common DCI (e.g., DCI format2_0) in which the SFI field and the channel occupancy duration field arenot configured or does not monitor the group common DCI. For example,the UE may obtain the information on the channel occupancy durationbased on at least one of the SFI field and the channel occupancyduration field, which may be included in DCI format 2_0. Whether eachfield included in DCI format 2_0 is configured or not may be flexiblydetermined. Accordingly, the SFI field and the channel occupancyduration field may not be configured in DCI format 2_0. When the UEreceives DCI format 2_0 that does not include the SFI field and thechannel occupancy duration field, the UE may not obtain the informationon the channel occupancy duration from DCI format 2_0. Alternatively, insome embodiments, the UE may be configured not to monitor DCI format2_0. If the UE is configured not to monitor DCI format 2_0, the UE maynot receive the information on the channel occupancy duration from theBS. In this case, the UE may need to perform channel measurement basedonly on CSI-RSs belonging to the same DL transmission burst as describedabove. If the UE does not receive the information on the channeloccupancy duration from the BS, it may be difficult for the UE todetermine the presence of the same DL transmission burst. According tothe proposed methods, the UE may determine the presence of the same (orone) DL transmission burst based on at least one of a PDSCH and anaperiodic CSI-RS, and the UE may obtain CSI based on a plurality ofCSI-RSs belonging to the same DL transmission burst. In this case, thePDSCH may mean a PDSCH scheduled by a PDCCH, and the aperiodic CSI-RSmay mean an aperiodic CSI-RS triggered by the PDCCH. In addition, eachof the plurality of CSI-RSs used for channel measurement may include aperiodic CSI-RS or a semi-persistent CSI-RS. Specifically, the UE mayobtain the CSI based on a plurality of CSI-RSs that fully overlap withat least one of the PDSCH and aperiodic CSI-RS in the time domain. Inthis case, a duration corresponding to the PDSCH and aperiodic CSI-RS inthe time domain may be a continuous time duration with no gaps in thetime domain. When the duration corresponding to the PDSCH and aperiodicCSI-RS is a continuous duration in the time domain, the UE may determinethe duration as one DL transmission burst. The UE may determine aplurality of CSI-RSs fully overlapping with the PDSCH and aperiodicCSI-RS continuous in the time domain as CSI-RSs belonging to one DLtransmission burst. When the UE receives both the PDSCH and aperiodicCSI-RS, the expression of “the duration corresponding to the PDSCH andaperiodic CSI-RS is a continuous time duration in the time domain andfully overlaps with at least one of the PDSCH and aperiodic CSI-RS inthe time domain” may mean that the PDSCH and aperiodic CSI-RS arecontinuous in the time domain, and a plurality of CSI-RS resources areall included in the continuous time duration corresponding to the PDSCHand aperiodic CSI-RS. When the UE receives only the PDSCH, the UE mayobtain the CSI based on a plurality of CSI-RSs fully overlapping withthe PDSCH in the time domain. When the UE receives only the aperiodicCSI-RS, the UE may obtain the CSI based on a plurality of CSI-RSs fullyoverlapping with the aperiodic CSI-RS in the time domain.

In other words, if CSI-RSs do not satisfy the above conditions, the UEmay not determine that the corresponding CSI-RSs belong to one DLtransmission burst and exclude the CSI-RSs from channel measurement.Specifically, the UE may determine that CSI-RS that do not fully overlapwith a PDSCH and an aperiodic CSI-RS continuous in the time domain arenot included in the same DL transmission burst and the UE may determinethe corresponding CSI-RSs as invalid CSI-RSs when measuring a channel.Accordingly, the CSI-RSs that do not overlap with the PDSCH andaperiodic CSI-RSs continuous in the time domain may be excluded fromcalculating the average value of CSI-RSs for channel measurement.

The UE may acquire CSI based on the average value of a plurality ofCSI-RSs. For example, the UE may obtain the CSI based on the averagevalue of received power of the plurality of CSI-RSs, but the presentdisclosure is not limited thereto.

The UE may receive information indicating to configure the plurality ofCSI-RSs based on at least one of the PDSCH and the aperiodic CSI-RSthrough higher layer signaling. In this case, the higher layer signalingmay mean RRC signaling, which be indicated through the parameterCSI-RS-ValidationWith-DCI-r16 as described above. Accordingly, when theparameter CSI-RS-ValidationWith-DCI-r16 is configured, the UE maydetermine the plurality of CSI-RSs for performing channel measurementbased on at least one of the PDSCH and aperiodic CSI-RS. The UE mayperform the channel measurement based on the determined plurality ofCSI-RSs and then obtain CSI.

The UE may transmit the obtained CSI to the BS (S1810).

[Method #13] Hereinafter, a description will be given of a method ofreceiving a periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RS (hereinafter referred toas a P/SP CSI-RS for convenience) during an SCell activation period andmeasuring/reporting CSI.

As shown in Table 20, the SCell activation period mentioned herein maymean a period between minimum delay requirements for SCell activationdefined in Tables 21 to 24 after reception of an activation command inslot n and transmission of a related HARQ-ACK in slot (n+k).

TABLE 20 4.3 Timing for secondary cell activation/deactivation Withreference to slots for PUCCH transmissions. when a UE receives in aPDSCH an activation command [11, TS 38.321] for a secondary cell endingin slot n, the UE applies the corresponding actions in [11, TS 38.321]no later than the minimum requirement defined is [10, TS 38,133] and noearlies than slot n + k , except for the following: - the actionsrelated to CSI reporting on a serving cell that is active in slot n +k - the actions related in the sCellDeactivationTimer associated withthe secondary cell [11, TS 38.321] that the UE applies in slot n + k -the actions related to CSI reporting on a serving cell which is notactive in slot n + k that the UE applies in the earliest slot after n +k in which the serving cell is active. The value of k is k₁+3·N_(slot)^(activation,μ) +1 where k₁ is a number of slots for a PUCCHtransmission with HARQ-ACK information for the PDSCH reception and isindicated by the PDSCH-to-HARQ_feedback timing indicator field in theDCI format scheduling the PDSCH reception as described in Clause 9.2.3and N_(slot) ^(activation,μ) is a number of slots per subframe for theSCS configuration μ of the PUCCH transmission. With reference to slotsfor PUCCH transmissions, if a UE receives a deactivation command [11, TS38.321] for a secondary cell ending in slot n, the UE applies thecorresponding actions in [11, TS 38.321] no later than the minimumrequirement defined in [10, TS 38.133], except for the actions relatedto CSI reporting on an activated serving cell which the UE applies inslot n + k .

TABLE 21 8.3A.2 SCell Activation Delay Requirement for Deactivated SCellThe requirements in this clause shall apply for the UE configured withone downlink SCell operating with CCA in EN-DC or in standalone NRcarrier aggregation and when one SCell operating with CCA is beingactivated. The delay within which the UE shall be able to activate thedeactivated SCell depends upon the specified conditions. Upon receivingSCell activation command in slot n, the UE shall be capable to transmitvalid CSI report and apply actions related to the activation command forthe SCell being activated no later than in slot n + (T_(HARQ) +T_(activation)_time_withCCA + T_(CSI)_reporting_withCCA)/NR_slot_length, where:  T_(HARQ) (in ms) is the timing between DL datatransmission and  acknowledgement as specified in TS 38.213 [3]. In theevent of UE  not being able to transmit the acknowledgment due to UL CCA failures: T_(HARQ) is extended to also include the time to all nextHARQ  feedback transmission and retransmission opportunities, until thetime  of its successful transmission, as specified in TS 38.213 [3]; no extension of T_(HARQ) due to UL LBT failures is allowed for Type 2C  ULchannel access procedure as defined in TS 37.213 [57].  T_(activation)_time_ withCCA is the SCell activation delay inmillisecond.    If the SCell is known, T_(activation)_time_withCCA is:    T_(FirstSSB) + L₁ * T_(rs) + 5 ms, if the SCell measurement cycle is    equal to or smaller than 160 ms.     T_(FirstSSB)_MAX + L_(2,1) *T_(SMTC)_MAX + (1 +L_(2,2)) * T_(rs) + 5 ms, if the     SCellmeasurement cycle is larger than 160 ms.    If the SCell is unknown,provided that the side condition    Ês/Iot  

 −2 dB is fulfilled and the SCell can be successfully    detected in oneattempt, T_(activation)_time_withCCA is:     T_(FirstSSB)_MAX +(1 +L_(3,1)) * T_(SMTC)_MAX + (2 + L_(3,2)) * T_(rs) + 5 ms.    Where,   T_(SMTC)_MAX:     In case of intra-band SCell activation,T_(SMTC)_MAX is the longest     SMTC periodicity between active servingcells and SCell     being activated provided the cell specific referencesignals     from the active serving cells and the SCells being activatedor     released are available in the same slot;     In case ofinter-band SCell activation, T_(SMTC)_MAX is the SMTC     periodicity ofSCell being activated;     T_(SMTC)_MAX is bounded to a minimum value of10 ms.

TABLE 22 T_(rs) is the SMTC periodicity of the SCell being activated ifthe UE has been provided with an SMTC configuration for the SCell inSCell addition message, otherwise T_(rs) is the SMTC configured in themeasObjectNR having the same SSB frequency and subcarrier spacing, ifthe UE is not provided SMTC configuration or measurement object on thisfrequency, the requirement which involves T_(rs) is applied with T_(rs)= 5ms assuming the SSB transmission periodicity is 5ms. There are norequirements if the SSB transmission periodicity is not 5msT_(FirstSSB): is the time to the end of the first complete configuredSSB burst indicated by the SMTC after slot n +(T_(HARQ)+3ms)/NR_slot_length T_(FirstSSB MAX): is the time to the endof first complete configured SSB burst indicated by the SMTC after slotn + (T_(HARQ)+3ms)/NR_slot_length when all active serving cells andSCells being activated or released have configured SSB bursts in thesame slot for intra-band scenario. In case of inter- band SCellactivation, T_(FirstSSB MAX) is the time to the end of the firstcomplete configured SSB burst of the SCell being activated. L₁(L₁ ≤L_(1,max)) is the number of configured SMTC occasions not available atthe UE. L_(1,max) = 2 if T_(rs) ≤ 40 ms; otherwise L_(1,max) = 1.L_(2,1) (L_(2,1) ≤ L_(2,1,max)) and L_(3,1) (L_(3,1) ≤ L_(3,1,max)) arethe number of configured SMTC occasions not available at the UE   in theSCell being activated, for inter-band scenario, or   in any of theSCells already activated or being activated provided their cell specificreference   signals are configured in the same slot, for intra-bandscenario  and L_(2,1,max) = 2 if T_(SMTC)_MAX ≤ 40 ms; otherwiseL_(2,1,max) = 1. L_(3,1,max) = 2 if T_(SMTC)_MAX ≤ 40 ms;  otherwiseL_(3,1,max) = 1.

TABLE 23 L_(2,2) (L_(2,2) ≤ L_(2,2,max)) and L_(3,2) (L_(3,2) ≤L_(3,2,max)) are the number of configured SMTC occasions not availableat the UE in the SCell being activated. L_(2,2,max) = 2 if T_(rs) ≤ 40ms; otherwise L_(2,2,max) = 1. L_(3,2,max) = 2 if T_(rs) ≤ 40 ms;otherwise L_(3,2,max) = 1 T_(CSI)_reporting_withCCA is the delay (in ms)including uncertainty in acquiring the first available downlink CSIreference resource, UE processing time for CSI reporting and uncertaintyin acquiring the first available CSI reporting resources as specified inTS 38.331 [2] and additional delay in reception of CSI-RS due tounavailability of reference signal CCA and additional delay intransmission of CSI reporting due to CCA failure in UL.T_(CSI)_reporting_withCCA − T_(CSI)_reporting + L₄*T_(CSI-RS) +T_(CSI)_ReportingDelay, where T_(CSI)_reporting is defined in clause8.3.2 T_(CSI-RS) is the periodicity of the configured CSI-RST_(CSI)_ReportingDelay is the additional delay in transmission of CSIreporting due to CCA failure in UL. If there are no uplink resources forreporting the valid CSI, then the UE shall use the next availableopportunities for reporting the corresponding valid CSI as specified inTS 38.213 [3]. L₄ (L₄ ≤ L_(4,max)) is the number of occasions the CSI-RSis not available. L_(4,max) = 2 if T_(CSI-RS) ≤ 40ms and L_(4,max) = 1otherwise. If the unavailability of any of the corresponding referencesignal exceeds L_(1,max), or L_(2,1,max), or L_(2,2,max), orL_(3,1,max), or L_(3,2,max), or L_(4,max), UE shall abandon the SCellactivation procedure. SCell operating with CCA is known if it has beenmeeting the following conditions: - During the period equal to max(5measCycleSCell, 5 DRX cycles) before the reception of the SCellactivation command: - the UE has sent a valid measurement report for theSCell being activated and - the SSB measured remains detectableaccording to the cell identification conditions specified in clause 9.2Aand 9.3A. - the SSB measured during the period equal to max(5measCycleSCell, 5 DRX cycles) also remains detectable during the SCellactivation delay according to the cell identification conditionsspecified in clause 9.2A and 9.3A. Otherwise SCell operating with CCA isunknown.

TABLE 24 If the UE has been provided with higher layer in TS 38.331 [2]signaling of smtc2 prior to the activation command, T_(SMTC)_Scellfollows smtc1 or smtc2 according to the physical cell ID of the targetcell being activated. T_(SMTC)_MAX follows smtc1 or smtc2 according tothe physical cell IDs of the target cells being activated and the activeserving cells. In addition to CSI reporting defined above, UE shall alsoapply other actions related to the activation command specified in TS38.331 [2] for a SCell at the first opportunities for the correspondingactions once the SCell is activated. The starting point of aninterruption window on SpCell or any activated SCell as specified inclause 8.2, shall not occur before ${{slot}n} + 1 + \frac{T_{HARQ}}{{NR}{slot}{length}}$ and not occurafter ${{{slot}n} + 1 + \frac{T_{HARQ} + 3 + T_{X}}{{NR}{slot}{length}}},$where T_(X) is:  - T_(FirstSSB) + (L₁)* T_(rs), for known SCellactivation when SCell measurement cycle is equal to, or smaller  than,160 ms;  - T_(FirstSSB)_MAX + L_(2,1)* T_(SMTC)_MAX for known SCellactivation when SCell measurement cycle is greater  than 160 ms;  -T_(FirstSSB)_MAX + L_(3,1)* T_(SMTC)_MAX for unknown SCell activationFor intra-band CA, while the SCell being activated is known or unknownwith measurement cycle greater than 160 ms, up to 1 + L interruptionwindows are allowed during SCell activation, where L = L_(2,1) for knownSCell and L = L_(3,1) for unknown SCell. For a single interruption (L =0), interruption window length at SCell activation does not depend on DLCCA failures. Editor's Note: Interruption windows for inter-band CA isFFS. The length of the interruption window may be different fordifferent victim cells, and depends on the applicable scenario and onthe frequency band relation between the aggressor cell and the victimcell. For a single interruption (L = 0), the interruption window lengthat SCell activation does not depend on DL CCA failures. Starting fromthe slot specified in clause 4.3 of TS 38.213 [3] (timing for secondaryCell activation/deactivation) and until the UE has completed the SCellactivation, the UE shall report out of range if the UE has availableuplink resources to report CQI for the SCell. Starting from the slotspecified in clause 4.3 of TS 38.213 [3] (timing for secondary Cellactivation/deactivation) and until the UE has completed a first L1-RSRPmeasurement, the UE shall report lowest valid L1 SS-RSRP range if the UEhas available uplink resources to report LI-RSRP for the SCell. Editor'sNote: Applicability of SCell activation requirements for the case whensCellDeactivationTimer is not configured is FFS. Editor's Note: UEbehavior with respect to a configured sCellDeactivationTimer in SCellactivation is FFS.

Specifically, the UE receives a P/SP CSI-RS at a time point other thanthe SCell activation period in the following case. For convenience, aserving cell where SCell activation is indicated is named cell #1.

-   -   Case 1: When the SFI field for cell #1 or the channel occupancy        duration or CO-duration field for cell #1 is configured in DCI        format 2_0→Since the COT duration is determined as shown in        Table 18, the UE may receive only a P/SP CSI-RS within the        determined COT duration and may not receive a P/SP-CSI-RS        outside the COT duration.    -   Case 2: When both the SFI field for cell #1 and the channel        occupancy duration or CO-duration field for cell #1 are not        configured in DCI format 2_0, but when        CSI-RS-ValidationWith-DCI-r16 (for cell #1) is configured→The UE        may receive only a P/SP CSI-RS in a region overlapping a PDSCH        or aperiodic CSI-RS indicated by UE-specific DCI as shown in        Table 19, but the UE may not receive a P/SP CSI-RS in other        regions.    -   Case 3: When both the SFI field for cell #1 and the channel        occupancy duration or CO-duration field for cell #1 are not        configured in DCI format 2_0, and when        CSI-RS-ValidationWith-DCI-r16 (for cell #1) is not        configured→The UE may receive a configured P/SP CSI-RS on the        assumption that the P/SP CSI-RS is always transmitted.

For Case 1 and/or Case 2, the UE may receive information on whether toreceive a P/SP CSI-RS in specific DCI before receiving the P/SPCSI-RSand determine whether to receive the P/SP CSI-RS based on the receivedinformation, unlike conventional P/SP CSI-RS reception (in licensedbands). However, since there is no requirement that the UE needs tomonitor a PDCCH during the SCell activation period, the UE may beconfigured not to perform PDCCH monitoring during the SCell activationperiod in some embodiments.

-   -   Alt 1: As one method, the UE may be requested to perform the        above-described operation, which is performed at a time other        than the SCell activation period, even during the SCell        activation period. However, when the UE is required to perform        the operation, which is performed at a time other than the SCell        activation period, during the SCell activation period, PDCCH        reception may be required before P/SP CSI-RS reception, and as a        result, the SCell activation delay requirement may increase.    -   Alt 2: As another method, P/SP CSI-RS reception may be allowed        without PDCCH reception (or without PDCCH information) during        the SCell activation period (even in Case 1 and/or Case 2). In        this case, in consideration of a CAP failure of the BS, the UE        may be required to perform blind detection (BD) for a P/SP        CSI-RS. Alternatively, the UE may receive the P/SP CSI-RS        without BD by assuming that the P/SP CSI-RS is always        transmitted and perform CSI reporting.

In particular, a different method may be applied depending on whetherinformation on the COT duration of cell #1 and/or a PDSCH (and/oraperiodic CSI-RS) indication for cell #1 is provided in cell #2 otherthan cell #1. The reason for this is that after completion of tracking,automatic gain control (AGC), application of a transmissionconfiguration indicator (TCI) configured in a CORESET, etc. for PDCCHDM-RS reception while SCell activation is performed in cell #1, aconsiderable amount of time may be required to stably receive a PDCCH ata block error rate (BLER) below a predetermined threshold (e.g., 1%).However, if the above information is provided in cell #2 that iscurrently activated, an additional time for stable PDCCH reception maynot be required. Thus, a P/SP CSI-RS may be received based on PDCCHinformation.

Specifically, for Case 1 (that is, when the SFI field or channeloccupancy duration field for cell #1 is configured in DCI format 2_0),if the SFI field and/or channel occupancy duration field for cell #1 isconfigured in DCI format 2_0 transmitted on cell #2 (that is, if aCORESET TCI for receiving DCI format 2_0 on cell #1 is aligned, or if aCORESET TCI for receiving DCI format 2_0 indicating SFI/channeloccupancy information related to cell #1 is aligned), the ULE operationperformed at a time other than the SCell activation period may beequally maintained even during the SCell activation period. On the otherhand, if the SFI field and/or channel occupancy duration field for cell#1 is not configured in DCI format 2_0 transmitted in another servingcell other than cell #1 (that is, if a CORESET TCI for receiving DCIformat 2_0 on cell #1 is not aligned, or if a CORESET TCI for receivingDCI format 2_0 indicating SFI/channel occupancy duration informationrelated to cell #1 is not aligned), Opt 1) the UE may operate as in Alt2, or Opt 2) the UE may be relaxed such that the UE does not need toperform CSI reporting or comply with the requirements for CSI values fora specific period of time (e.g., X ms, where X may be predefined andreported as UE capability) after the end of the SCell activation period.Alternatively, if the UE intends to report CSI, the UE may be allowed toreport an out-of-range value. In this case, the SFI/channel occupancyduration information may be indicated by the SFI field/channel occupancyduration field of DCI format 2_0.

In addition, for Case 2 (that is, when neither the SFI field for cell #1nor the channel occupancy duration field for cell #1 is configured inDCI format 20, but when CSI-RS-ValidationWith-DCI-r16 (for cell #1) isconfigured), if a PDSCH on cell #1 is capable of being scheduled by anyDCI format (e.g., DCI format 1_1/1_2/0_1/0_2) transmitted on cell #2(that is, if cross-carrier scheduling is configured), or if an aperiodicCSI-RS on cell #1 is capable of being triggered (that is, if a CORESETTCI for receiving DCI on cell #1 is aligned, or if a CORESET TCI forreceiving DCI indicating scheduling information related to cell #1 isaligned), the UE operation performed at a time other than the SCellactivation period may be equally maintained even during the SCellactivation period. On the other hand, if a PDSCH and/or aperiodic CSI-RSto be transmitted in cell #1 is incapable of being indicated by any DCIformat (e.g., DCI format 1_1/1_2/0_1/0_2) transmitted in another servingcell other than cell #1 (that is, if a CORESET TCI for receiving DCI oncell #1 is not aligned, or if a CORESET TCI for receiving DCI indicatingscheduling information related to cell #1 is not aligned), Opt 1) the UEmay operate as in Alt 2, or Opt 2) the UE may be relaxed such that theUE does not need to perform CSI reporting or comply with therequirements for CSI values for a specific period of time (e.g., X ms,where X may be predefined and reported as UE capability) after the endof the SCell activation period. Alternatively, if the UE intends toreport CSI, the UE may be allowed to report an out-of-range value.

2) Transmitter (Entity B (e.g., BS)):

[Method #1A] Allocating SFI Field for Each CAP-BW in CO-DCI

For example, in the CA situation of FIG. 9 , N1 may be allocated forCAP-BW #1-1, N2 may be allocated for CAP-BW #1-2, N3 may be allocatedfor CAP-BW #2-1, and N4 may be allocated for CAP-BW #3-1, as shown inFIG. 10 . Thereby, the SFI may be indicated for each CAP-BW in theCO-DCI.

[Method #1A-1] Configuring an SFI Field for Each CAP-BW in the CO-DCIWherein Specific CAP-BWs May Share the Same Offset Value

In FIG. 10 , the entirety or part of N1/N2/N3/N4 may be set to the samevalue. For example, CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 belong to the same carrier.Accordingly, on the assumption that the BS indicates the same D/Udirection for CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2, DCI overhead may be reduced byindicating the D/U direction of CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 through the same fieldin the CO-DCI. That is, the D/U direction (e.g., SFI field) may beconfigured for each carrier. However, since the ON/OFF state of CAP-BW#1-1/#1-2 may also be shared, the ON/OFF state may not be indicated foreach of the CAP-BWs. Such signaling configuration may implicitlyindicate that the BS attempts to perform transmission only when the CAPis successful for both CAP-BW #1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2, which belong to CC#1, and otherwise, it does not transmit the DL burst. In addition,setting the offsets corresponding to CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 belonging to thesame carrier to the same value may mean that RBs corresponding to aguard band present between CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 are available (e.g.,mapped/transmitted) (for, for example, PDCCH, PDSCH and/or CSI-RStransmission) (or may be interpreted as meaning that the guard band isnot configured).

Alternatively, a transmission mode related to a transmission method foreach CAP-BW of the BS may be separately configured. For example, it maybe separately signaled whether the mode is a mode (hereinafter, mode1)in which transmission is performed (in all CAP-BWs) only when the CAP issuccessful for all CAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP, or amode (hereinafter, mode2) in which transmission is attempted for someCAP-BWs when the CAP is successful for the some CAP-BWs among theCAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP. When mode1 is configured,the BS may assume that the SFI field is shared (i.e., the same offsetvalue is set or an offset value is set for each cell) for all theCAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP. When mode2 is configured,the BS may assume that the SFI field is configured for each CAP-BWbelonging to the carrier/active BWP (i.e., a separate offset value isset, or an offset value is set for each CAP-BW).

In [Method #1A] and [Method #1-1A], through a specific state of the SFIfield, it may be indicated that the CAP-BW(s) is OFF (that is, the BSdoes not attempt transmission due to CAP failure). As an example, whenthe SFI field is configured in 3 bits and is set to ‘000’, it mayindicate that the CAP-BW(s) corresponding to the SFI field is in an OFFstate. As another example, when SlotFormatCombination is not linked to aspecific state (e.g., SFI-index) of the SFI field, the state may beutilized to indicate the OFF state of the CAP-BW(s). The SFI field sizemay be determined by the set maximum number of SFI-indexes. When the SFIfield size is 3 bits, SlotFormatCombination may not be configured forsome of the 8 SFI-indexes. In this case, when the value of an SFI-indexfor which SlotFormatCombination is not configured is signaled, the BSmay inform that the corresponding CAP-BW(s) is in an OFF state.

When the CAP-BW(s) is in the OFF state, the UL slot/symbol informationabout the CAP-BW in the ON state belonging to the same carrier/BWP orthe same band as the CAP-BW(s) may be passed on to the CAP-BW(s) in theOFF state. As an example, CAP-BW #1-1 may be signaled in the OFF state,but CAP-BW #1-2 may be signaled in the ON state (when separate SFIfields are configured for CAP-BW #1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2). In this case,for example, if all symbols of slot #k/k+1 are signaled as UL for CAP-BW#1-2 through CO-DCI, the BS may inform that CAP-BW #1-1 is also UL forslot #k/k+1. This is because it may be considered impossible to performreception in an adjacent band while performing transmission in theadjacent band, on the assumption that a BS operating in the unlicensedband generally operates through one radio frequency (RF) module.Accordingly, the BS may inform that, during slot #k/k+1, PDCCHmonitoring is not performed in either CAP-BW #1-1 or CAP-BW #1-2 andconfigured UL transmission (e.g., periodic/semi-persistent PUCCH/SRS,configured grant PUSCH, etc.) is allowed.

In addition, through the specific state of the SFI field, it may beindicated that the corresponding CAP-BW(s) (in the slot in which theCO-DCI is detected) belongs to the first slot of transmission (e.g., DLburst) or to the first k slot(s) in the time duration occupied by theBS. As an example, when the SFI field is configured in 3 bits and is setto ‘111’, it may indicate that the CAP-BW(s) corresponding to the SFIfield (in the slot in which the CO-DCI is detected) belongs to the firstslot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst. As another example, whenSlotFormatCombination is not linked to a specific state (e.g.,SFI-index) of the SFI field, the state may be utilized. The SFI fieldsize may be determined by the set maximum number of SFI-indexes. Whenthe SFI field size is 3 bits, SlotFormatCombination may not beconfigured for some of the 8 SFI-indexes. In this case, when the valueof SFI-index for which SlotFormatCombination is not configured issignaled, the BS may inform that the CAP-BW(s) belongs to the first slot(or the first k slots) of the DL burst (in the slot in which the CO-DCIis detected). In this case, the BS may inform that DL is configured (forall cells configured in the unlicensed band or a part thereof) in thefirst slot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst. That is, in theslot(s) in which the CAP-BW(s) is recognized as belonging to the firstslot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst, all symbols may be assumedto be DL. Accordingly, the BS may perform PDCCH transmission on theassumption that all symbols in the slot(s) are DL in the CAP-BW(s). Inthis method, in order to update the slot format of the CAP-BW(s), the BSmay transmit DCI format 2_0 again within the same DL burst. For example,upon receiving SFI=111, the UE may recognize only that the CAP-BW(s) isthe start of the DL burst, and identify the slot format (e.g., D/U/F) inthe DL burst/COT based on the updated SFI information, while monitoringthe PDCCH as in the case where the CAP-BW(s) is outside the DL burst.

In addition, the DL burst or the channel occupancy of the BS may bedivided into two time durations (for all cells configured in theunlicensed band or a part thereof), and a search space set (or PDCCH)may be independently configured for each of the durations. For example,duration 1 may be defined as a duration within the first k slots in theDL burst or the channel occupancy of the BS (for all cells configured inthe unlicensed band or a part thereof), and duration 2 may be defined asa duration after the first k slots in the DL burst or the channeloccupancy of the BS (for all cells configured in the unlicensed band ora part thereof). Here, k may be predefined as an integer greater than orequal to 1 or may be set by separate RRC signaling. Specifically, whenit is signaled/recognized that the CAP-BW(s) belongs to the first slot(or the first k slots) of the DL burst (in the slot in which the CO-DCIis detected), the BS may transmit a PDCCH through a specific firstsearch space set for the corresponding duration (e.g., duration 1) (forall cells configured in the unlicensed band or a part thereof), or maytransmit a specific first PDCCH for the corresponding duration (e.g.,duration 1). On the other hand, when it is signaled/recognized that theCAP-BW(s) is in the ON state (in the slot in which the CO-DCI isdetected), but does not belong to the first slot (or the first k slots)of the DL burst, the BS may transmit a PDCCH through a specific secondsearch space set for the corresponding duration (e.g., duration 2) (forall cells configured in the unlicensed band or a part thereof), or maytransmit a specific second PDCCH for the corresponding duration (e.g.,duration 2). Here, the specific first and second search space sets maybe different from each other. For example, the specific first and secondsearch space sets may have different PDCCH monitoring periodicities.Also, the specific first and second PDCCHs may be different from eachother. For example, DCI formats transmitted on the specific first andsecond PDCCHs may be different from each other. For example, the DCIformat transmitted on the specific first PDCCH may include a groupcommon DCI format (e.g., DCI format 2_0). Also, the DCI formattransmitted on the specific second PDCCH may include a DCI format fordata scheduling (e.g., DCI format 0_X/1_X) and a group common DCI format(e.g., DCI format 2_0).

[Method #2A] Allocating the SFI Field for Each CAP-BW in the CO-DCI andConfiguring a Bitmap for Indicating the ON/OFF State of Each CAP-BWThrough a Separate Field

In the CA situation as shown in FIG. 9 , N1 may be allocated to CAP-BW#1-1, N2 may be allocated to CAP-BW #1-2, N3 may be allocated to CAP-BW#2-1, and N4 may be allocated to CAP-BW #3-1, as shown in FIG. 11 .Thereby, the ON/OFF state and SFI may be indicated for each CAP-BW inthe CO-DCI. While the SFI field and the field indicating ON/OFF areillustrated in FIG. 11 as being consecutively positioned, a bitindicating the ON/OFF state may be added after the SFI field, or abitmap or bit-field indicating ON/OFF may be configured through aseparate offset value for each CAP-BW.

[Method #2A-1] Configuring an SFI Field for Each CAP-BW in the CO-DCIand Configuring a Bitmap for Indicating the ON/OFF State of Each CAP-BWThrough a Separate Field, Wherein Specific CAP-BWs May Share a SFI Fieldand/or a Bit-Field Value Indicating the ON/OFF State

In FIG. 11 , the entirety or part of N1/N2/N3/N4 may be set to the samevalue. For example, CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 belong to the same carrier.Accordingly, on the assumption that the BS indicates the same D/Udirection for CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2, DCI overhead may be reduced byindicating the D/U direction of CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 through the same fieldin the CO-DCI. That is, the D/U direction (e.g., SFI field) may beconfigured for each carrier. However, since the ON/OFF state of CAP-BW#1-1/#1-2 is also shared, the ON/OFF state may not be indicated for eachof the CAP-BWs. Such signaling configuration may implicitly indicatethat the BS attempts to perform transmission only when the CAP issuccessful for both CAP-BW #1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2, which belong to CC #1,and otherwise, it does not transmit the DL burst. In addition, settingthe offsets corresponding to CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 belonging to the samecarrier to the same value may mean that RBs corresponding to a guardband present between CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 are available (e.g.,mapped/transmitted) (for, for example, PDCCH, PDSCH and/or CSI-RStransmission) (or may be interpreted as meaning that the guard band isnot configured).

Alternatively, a transmission mode related to a transmission method foreach CAP-BW of the BS may be separately configured. For example, it maybe separately signaled whether the mode is a mode (hereinafter, mode1)in which transmission is performed (in all CAP-BWs) only when the CAP issuccessful for all CAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP, or amode (hereinafter, mode2) in which transmission is attempted for someCAP-BWs when the CAP is successful for the some CAP-BWs among theCAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP. When mode1 is configured,the BS may assume that the SFI field and the bitmap field are shared(e.g., only 1 bit is configured for the bitmap field corresponding tothe cell, and only one SFI field is configured) for all the CAP-BWsbelonging to the carrier/active BWP. When mode2 is configured, the BSmay assume that a bit field in the bitmap is configured for each CAP-BWbelonging to the carrier/active BWP (that is, a bitmap field and anoffset value for the SFI field are configured for each CAP-BW).

As another example, as shown in FIG. 12 , an offset value of N1 may beset in common for the SFI fields for CAP-BW #1-1/1-2/2-1/3-1. Inaddition, in the bitmap indicating the ON/OFF state, offset values ofN2/N3/N4/N5 may be set for each CAP-BW, or all or some of N2/N3/N4/N5may be set to the same value. If N2 and N3 are set to the same value,the ON/OFF state for CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 may also be shared, and thus theON/OFF state may not be indicated for each of the CAP-BWs. Suchsignaling configuration may implicitly indicate that the BS attempts toperform transmission only when the CAP is successful for both CAP-BW#1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2, which belong to CC #1, and otherwise, it does nottransmit the DL burst. In addition, setting the offsets corresponding toCAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 belonging to the same carrier to the same value maymean that RBs corresponding to a guard band present between CAP-BW#1-1/#1-2 are available (e.g., mapped/transmitted) (for, for example,PDCCH, PDSCH and/or CSI-RS transmission) (or may be interpreted asmeaning that the guard band is not configured).

As another example, as shown in FIG. 13 , for each CC (or BWP), a commonoffset N1 (with respect to the SFI field position) may be set, and abitmap indicating the ON/OFF state may be signaled through a k-bitbitmap after the offset value (or before the offset value, after the endof the field size configured after N1, after the field size configuredafter N1). Here, k may be equal to the number of CAP-BWs correspondingto the CC (or BWP), and may be less than or equal to the number ofCAP-BWs corresponding to the CC (or BWP). When k is less than theCAP-BWs, the value of k may be signaled separately. In addition, when kis less than the CAP-BWs, the relationship between each bit of the k-bitbitmap and the corresponding CAP-BW(s) may be preconfigured by the BS.When k=1, the ON/OFF state for CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 may also be shared, andthus the ON/OFF state may not be indicated for each CAP-BW. Suchsignaling configuration may implicitly indicate that the BS attempts toperform transmission only when the CAP is successful for both CAP-BW#1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2, which belong to CC #1, and otherwise, it does nottransmit the DL burst. In addition, setting the bit values correspondingto the ON/OFF states of CAP-BW #1-1-/#1-2 belonging to the same carrierto the same position may mean that RBs corresponding to a guard bandpresent between CAP-BW #1-1/#1-2 are available (e.g.,mapped/transmitted) (for, for example, PDCCH, PDSCH and/or CSI-RStransmission) (or may be interpreted as meaning that the guard band isnot configured).

Alternatively, a transmission mode related to a transmission method foreach CAP-BW of the BS may be separately configured. For example, it maybe separately signaled whether the mode is a mode (hereinafter, mode1)in which transmission is performed (in all CAP-BWs) only when the CAP issuccessful for all CAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP, or amode (hereinafter, mode2) in which transmission is attempted for someCAP-BWs when the CAP is successful for the some CAP-BWs among theCAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP. When mode1 is configured,the BS may assume that the bitmap field indicating the ON/OFF state isshared for all CAP-BWs belonging to the carrier/active BWP (that is,only 1 bit is configured for the bitmap field corresponding to thecell). Alternatively, if a bit field in the bitmap is configured foreach CAP-BW belonging to the carrier/active BWP when mode1 isconfigured, the UE may assume that only ‘1’ or ‘0’ is signaled in thebitmap. When mode2 is configured, the BS may assume that a bit field inthe bitmap is configured for each CAP-BW belonging to the carrier/activeBWP (that is, an offset value for the bitmap field is set for eachCAP-BW).

In [Method #2A] and [Method #2-1A], the BS may inform that thecorresponding CAP-BW is OFF if 1-bit information corresponding to eachCAP-BW(s) is ‘0’ (or ‘1’), and that the corresponding CAP-BW is ON ifthe information is ‘1’ (or ‘0’). When the CAP-BW(s) is in the OFF state,the UL slot/symbol information about the CAP-BW in the ON statebelonging to the same carrier/BWP or the same band as the CAP-BW(s) maybe passed on to the CAP-BW(s) in the OFF state. As an example, CAP-BW#1-1 may be signaled in the OFF state, but CAP-BW #1-2 may be signaledin the ON state (when ON/OFF information about CAP-BW #1-1 and ON/OFFinformation about CAP-BW #1-2 are signaled through separate bit-fieldsand the SFI field is signaled in common). In this case, for example, ifall symbols of slot #k/k+1 are signaled as UL for CAP-BW #1-2 throughCO-DCI, the BS may inform that CAP-BW #1-1 is also UL for slot #k/k+1.This is because it may be considered impossible to perform reception inan adjacent band while performing transmission in the adjacent band, onthe assumption that a BS operating in the unlicensed band generallyoperates through one RF module. Accordingly, the BS may inform that,during slot #k/k+1, PDCCH monitoring is not performed in either CAP-BW#1-1 or CAP-BW #1-2, and that configured UL transmission (e.g.,periodic/semi-persistent PUCCH/SRS, configured grant PUSCH, etc.) isallowed.

Alternatively, even if the CAP-BW(s) is signaled in the OFF state, theBS may recognize that the UL information on the SFI signalingcorresponding to the CAP-BW is valid. As an example, when CAP-BW #1-1 issignaled in the OFF state, and all symbols of slot #k/k+1 are signaledas DL and all symbols of slot #k+2/k+3 are signaled as UL for CAT-BW#1-1, the BS may inform that slot #k+2/k+3 is UL, ignoring SFI signalingin slot #k/k+1. In this case, the BS may inform that PDCCH monitoring isnot performed in CAP-BW #1-1 during slot #k/k+1/k+2/k+3, and thatconfigured UL transmission (e.g., periodic/semi-persistent PUCCH/SRS,configured grant PUSCH, etc.) is allowed during slot #k+2/k+3.

Alternatively, through a specific state of the SFI field and/or thebitmap field, it may be indicated that the CAP-BW(s) (in the slot inwhich the CO-DCI is detected) belongs to the first slot of transmission(e.g., DL burst) or belongs to the first k slot(s) in a time durationoccupied by the BS. Here, the value of k may be predefined as an integergreater than or equal to 1 or may be set by separate RRC signaling. As amethod, when all bits in the bitmap that correspond to all CAP-BW(s)corresponding to a cell in which the CO-DCI is transmitted signal OFF,it may be indicated that the CAP-BW(s) (in the slot in which the CO-DCIis detected) belongs to the first slot (or the first k slots) of the DLburst. It is contradictory that all CAP-BW(s) corresponding to the cellare OFF when the CO-DCI is transmitted from the cell. Accordingly, thistransmission may be used for the above-described signaling. That is,through the CO-DCI transmission, it may be indirectly indicated that theCAP-BW is ON. In addition, through the CAP-BW ON/OFF information, it maybe indicated that the CAP-BW belongs to the first slot (or the first kslots) of the DL burst. For example, when the CO-DCI is transmitted onCC #1, if all the ON/OFF information in the bitmap corresponding toCAP-BW #1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2 is OFF, it may be indicated that CAP-BW #1-1and CAP-BW #1-2 (in the slot in which the CO-DCI is detected) belong tothe first slot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst.

In addition, the CO-DCI may be transmitted on CC #A, and all the ON/OFFinformation corresponding to CC #A/B may be included in the CO-DCI(i.e., cross-carrier indication). In this case, since the CAP-BW ON/OFFinformation for CC #B is transmitted on the other CC (e.g., CC #A), itmay be ambiguous whether there is actual transmission by the BS on CC#B. Therefore, if all the CAP-BW(s) for CC #A are OFF, the UE may assumethat the DL burst has started even on CC #B (even if transmission isactually performed only on CC #A). On the other hand, if some or all ofthe CAP-BW(s) for CC #A are later updated to ON, information on CC #Bmay be recognized as a real OFF only when all the CAP-BW ON/OFFinformation for CC #B is OFF. For example, CO-DCI may be transmitted onCC #1, and all ON/OFF information corresponding to CC #1/2/3 may beincluded in the CO-DCI. In this case, the BS transmitting CO-DCI inwhich all ON/OFF information on the bitmap corresponding to CAP-BW#1-1/CAP-BW #1-2/CAP-BW #2-1/CAP-BW #3-1 is OFF may inform the UE thatCC #2 and CC #3 as well as CC #1 (in the slot in which the CO-DCI isdetected) belong to the first slot (or the first k slots) of the DLburst. Also, CO-DCI may be transmitted on CC #2, and all ON/OFFinformation corresponding to CC #1/2/3 may be included in the CO-DCI. Inthis case, the BS transmitting, on CC #2, the CO-DCI including bitmapinformation corresponding to CAP-BW #1-1=OFF, CAP-BW #1-2=OFF, CAP-BW#2-1=ON, and CAP-BW #3-1=OFF may inform the UE that any of CAP-BW #1-1and CAP-BW #1-2 belonging to CC #1 does not belong to the first slot (orthe first k slots) of the DL burst because CC #2 does not belong to thefirst slot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst (in the slot in whichthe CO-DCI is detected). Accordingly, the UE may recognize that actualDL reception is not available in CAP-BW #1-1 and CAP-BW #1-2.

As an example, when the SFI field is configured in 3 bits and is set to‘111’, it may indicate that the CAP-BW corresponding to the SFI field(in the slot in which the CO-DCI is detected) belongs to the first slot(or the first k slots) of the DL burst. As another example, whenSlotFormatCombination is not linked to a specific state (e.g.,SFI-index) of the SFI field, the state may be utilized. The SFI fieldsize may be determined by the set maximum number of SFI-indexes. Whenthe SFI field size is 3 bits, SlotFormatCombination may not beconfigured for some of the 8 SFI-indexes. In this case, when the valueof SFI-index for which SlotFormatCombination is not configured issignaled, the BS may inform that the CAP-BW(s) belongs to the first slot(or the first k slots) of the DL burst (in the slot in which the CO-DCIis detected). Then, the UE may assume DL (for all cells configured inthe unlicensed band or a part thereof) during the first slot (or thefirst k slots) of the DL burst. That is, in the slot(s) in which theCAP-BW(s) is recognized as belonging to the first slot (or the first kslots) of the DL burst, all symbols may be assumed to be DL.Accordingly, the UE may perform PDCCH monitoring on the assumption thatall symbols in the slot(s) are DL in the CAP-BW(s). In this method, inorder to update the slot format of the CAP-BW(s), the BS may transmitDCI format 2_0 again within the same DL burst. For example, uponreceiving SFI=111, the UE may recognize only that the CAP-BW(s) is thestart of the DL burst, and identify the slot format (e.g., D/U/F) in theDL burst/COT based on the updated SFI information, while monitoring thePDCCH as in the case where the CAP-BW(s) is outside the DL burst.

In addition, the DL burst or the channel occupancy of the BS may bedivided into two time durations (for all cells configured in theunlicensed band or a part thereof), and a search space set (or PDCCH)may be independently configured for each of the durations. For example,duration 1 may be defined as a duration within the first k slots in theDL burst or the channel occupancy of the BS (for all cells configured inthe unlicensed band or a part thereof), and duration 2 may be defined asa duration after the first k slots in the DL burst or the channeloccupancy of the BS (for all cells configured in the unlicensed band ora part thereof). Here, k may be predefined as an integer greater than orequal to 1 or may be set by separate RRC signaling. Specifically, whenit is signaled/recognized that the CAP-BW(s) belongs to the first slot(or the first k slots) of the DL burst (in the slot in which the CO-DCIis detected), the BS may transmit a PDCCH through a specific firstsearch space set for the corresponding duration (e.g., duration 1) (forall cells configured in the unlicensed band or a part thereof), or maytransmit a specific first PDCCH for the corresponding duration (e.g.,duration 1). Alternatively, since it is uncertain whether CSI-RS istransmitted in the CAP-BW for the corresponding duration (e.g., duration1), the BS may not expect, from the UE, a report on CSI measurement (orRRM/RLM measurement) through the CSI-RS that is configured to betransmitted for the corresponding duration (e.g., duration 1). On theother hand, when it is signaled/recognized that the CAP-BW(s) is in theON state (in the slot in which the CO-DCI is detected), but does notbelong to the first slot (or the first k slots) of the DL burst, the BSmay transmit a PDCCH belonging to a specific second search space set forthe corresponding duration (e.g., duration 2) (for all cells configuredin the unlicensed band or a part thereof), or may transmit a specificsecond PDCCH for the corresponding duration (e.g., duration 2).Alternatively, the BS may not expect, from the UE, a report on CSImeasurement (or RRM/RLM measurement) through a CSI-RS that is configuredto be transmitted for the corresponding duration (e.g., duration 2).Here, the specific first and second search space sets may be differentfrom each other. For example, the specific first and second search spacesets may have different PDCCH monitoring periodicities. Also, thespecific first and second PDCCHs may be different from each other. DCIformats transmitted on the specific first and second PDCCHs may bedifferent from each other.

[Method #3A] Method for Configuring Time Domain DL/UL Direction

The maximum channel occupancy time (MCOT) may be determined according toa priority class corresponding to the CAP performed by the BS (see Table7), and the BS may set a time less than or equal to the MCOT as a COTduration thereof. In this case, the BS may inform the UE of the COT thanor equal to the MCOT as a COT duration. Accordingly, the UE may performPDCCH monitoring configured outside the COT duration. For example,outside the COT duration, it is not known when the BS will transmit thePDCCH. Accordingly, monitoring may be performed very frequently, but maybe performed at a much slower tempo in the COT duration. Such monitoringmay be beneficial in terms of power consumption of the UE. In addition,the UE may distinguish between UL in the COT duration or UL outside theCOT duration. In the case of UL in the COT duration, it may bedetermined whether the channel is idle/busy only for a predeterminedtime period. When the channel is idle, UL transmission may be allowedwithout random backoff. Alternatively, UL transmission may be allowedafter a predetermined time without determining whether the channel isidle/busy. On the other hand, in the case of UL outside the COTduration, UL transmission may be allowed only when a randombackoff-based CAP is performed.

[Method #3A-1] Explicitly Signaling COT Duration in CO-DCI

In the CO-DCI, the COT start slot index, and/or the COT last slot index,and/or the COT duration from a specific slot may be signaled through aseparate field. The field may be configured for each CAP-BW, for eachcarrier/active BWP, or for a group of CAP-BWs, a group ofcarriers/active BWPs, or an unlicensed band in common.

There may be a difference between a duration in which SFI information isapplied and the COT duration. For example, while the period formonitoring the CO-DCI is set to 4 slots, the COT information in theCO-DCI may indicate that the COT duration is 1 slot. In this case, theSFI information should include information about at least 4 slots, andhow the UE should interpret the SFI information indicated for theremaining 3 slots may be a challenge.

For example, when the SFI information of the SFI field corresponds to kslots and the time at which CO-DCI is received is slot #n, DL/ULinformation corresponding to slot #n to slot #n+k−1 may be signaledthrough the SFI information. In this case, the last slot index indicatedby the field indicating the COT duration may be after slot #n+k−1. Inthis case, the SFI information may be applied for the DL/UL informationcorresponding to slot #n to slot #n+k−1, but an assumption may berequired for DL/UL information after slot #n+k−1. Hereinafter, a methodassumed by the UE is discussed.

Opt 1) By applying the wrap-around scheme, a rule may be set such thatSFI information corresponding to slot #n+k corresponds to slot #n, andSFI information corresponding to slot #n+k+1 corresponds to slot #n+1.

Opt 2) A rule may be set such that SFI in slot #n+k−1 (or correspondingto the last symbol of slot #n+k−1) is repeated after slot #n+k−1.

Opt 3) A rule may be set such that specific SFI (e.g., all DL or all UL)is repeated after slot #n+k−1.

Opt 4) A rule may be set such that the UE does not expect theaforementioned case.

Alternatively, the UE may expect to receive DL/UL information in thecorresponding duration through reception of additional CO-DCI, and mayapply one of Opt1 to Opt3 if it fails to receive the information.

[Method #3A-2] Implicitly Signaling the COT Duration Through aCombination of Specific SFIs in the CO-DCI

SFI information for slot #k may be duplicated/transmitted in slot #n andslot #m. Here, when SFI information corresponding to slot #k signaled inslot #n is A, and SFI information corresponding to slot #k signaled inslot #m is B, slot #k may be defined as the last slot of the COToccupied by the BS. As an example, A may be all DL and B may be all UL.

SFI information after the last slot index of the COT recognized through[Method #3-1] and/or [Method #3-2] may be present. As an example, theSFI information for CAP-BW #1-1 of CO-DCI received in slot #n may spanup to slot #n+k, but the last slot index of the COT indicated by theCO-DCI may be slot #n+k−2. In this regard, a method for processing theSFI information for slot #n+k−1 and slot #n+k is proposed.

Opt A) SFI information for slot #n+k−1 and slot #n+k may be ignored. Forexample, even when the UE receives the SFI information for slot #n+k−1and slot #n+k, it may operate as if it did not receive the SFIinformation for slot #n+k−1 and slot #n+k. Accordingly, communicationmay be performed based on the SFI information only within the COTduration.

Opt B) Only UL information in the SFI information for slots #n+k−1 and#n+k may be considered valid. Accordingly, the UE may not perform PDCCHmonitoring for the corresponding UL duration, and may recognize theduration as a UL duration outside the COT duration. That is, during slot#n+k−1 and slot #n+k, the UE may not perform PDCCH monitoring, and mayrecognize the UL duration of slots #n+k−1 and #n+k as a UL durationoutside the COT duration.

Opt C) The UE may not expect such a case to occur.

[Method #4A] In transmitting CO-DCI, a group of carrier/active BWPsand/or CAP-BWs may be configured. A rule may be set such that all theSFI information and ON/OFF information about the carrier/active BWPsand/or CAP-BWs belonging to the configured group are included in theCO-DCI, and the CO-DCI is transmitted over all the carriers/active BWPsand/or CAP-BWs belonging to the configured group.

[Method #5A] Hereinafter, a description will be given of a method ofdetermining how long information on all or some RB sets of serving cell(index) #n, which is indicated to be available by DCI format 2_0received in slot #t, is valid when DCI format 2_0 is monitored onserving cell (index) #m (where m and n may be the same or different).Here, for serving cell (index) #n, the RB set indicator field (and/orsearch space set switching field) is configured, but the SFI field andchannel occupancy duration field are not configured. In the presentdisclosure, a CAP-BW may have the same meaning as an RB set. The RB setmay be configured on a carrier by RRC signaling, and if not configured,the RB set may be determined as a predefined value depending on thefrequency domain of the carrier.

Specifically, the BS may be allowed to transmit DCI format 2_0 only whenthe information is valid for a predetermined or predefined time duration(e.g., X slots (where X is 1 or 2), the periodicity of a search spaceset associated with DCI format 2_0, a duration of P symbols for whichsearch space group switching is performed) from a reference time pointin slot #t in which DCI format 2_0 is received (e.g., the endingboundary of slot #t, the starting boundary of slot #t, the startingboundary of slot #(t+1), the boundary of a first/last symbol of receivedDCI format 2_0, or the boundary of a first/last symbol of a CORESET towhich received DCI format 2_0 belongs).

In the NR-U system, the RB set indicator (or available RB set indicator)and the channel occupancy duration field (or COT duration indicator) areintroduced in DCI format 2_0 as shown in Tables 9 to 11 above. Each ofthe three fields may be configured independently. Herein, a method fordetermining the validity of an RB set according to whether the threefields are configured is proposed. When the validity of RB set(s)indicated to be available is determined as in Tables 10 and 11, if thechannel occupancy duration field is configured, the RB set(s) may bedetermined valid for a duration indicated by the channel occupancyduration field. If the channel occupancy duration field is notconfigured, the RB set(s) may be determined valid for a durationcorresponding to an indicated SFI index (for example, if the indicatedSFI index, SFI index #y contains SFI information on y1 slots, thecorresponding duration is the y1 slots). However, a method fordetermining the validity of RB set(s) when the RB set indicator isconfigured but neither the channel occupancy duration field nor the SFIfield is configured has not been defined yet.

According to the proposed method, for example, four RB sets and the RBset indicator (i.e., 4-bit bitmap) may be configured for serving cell(index) #1, but both the channel occupancy duration field and the SFIfield may not be configured. In this case, information on serving cell(index) #1 may be transmitted in DCI format 2_0 associated with aspecific search space set configured on serving cell (index) #1. The BSmay transmit DCI format 2_0 on a monitoring occasion designated for thecorresponding search space set. When the RB set indicator indicates‘1100’ (that is, the first and second RB sets in serving cell (index) #1are valid), the BS may be allowed to transmit DCI format 2_0 only ifinformation on the availability of the RB sets is valid forpredetermined/predefined Z slots/symbols (the periodicity configured fora search space set associated with corresponding DCI format 2_0; thevalue of P when search space group switching is configured as shown inTable 12; or the minimum/maximum of the periodicity configured for thesearch space set associated with corresponding DCI format 2_0 and thevalue of P) from slot #n (the last symbol of DCI format 2_0 received inslot #n, the starting/ending boundary of slot #n, or the starting/endingboundary of slot #(n+1)). If the timeline after applying theconfigured/defined Z slots/symbols is not aligned with the slotboundary, the UE may determine that the RB set information is valid tothe nearest slot boundary after applying the configured/defined Zslots/symbols. If the RB set information is valid, it may mean that theUE needs to receive a DL signal such as a PDCCH and/or a CSI-RS that isconfined in the first and second RB sets in serving cell (index) #1.Alternatively, it may mean that when the UE transmits a UL signalscheduled or configured within a valid period (allocated to thefrequency domain of the RB set indicated to be available) on theavailable RB sets (e.g., the first and second RB sets in serving cell(index) #1), the UE may perform the Type 2 CAP.

Whether the method is applied may be configured by additional higherlayer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling).

[Method #6A] Hereinafter, it will be described which RB set(s) belongingto serving cell (index) #n the UE is capable of recognizing as availableRB set(s) based on DCI format 2_0 received in slot #t when the UEmonitors DCI format 2_0 on serving cell (index) #m (where m and n may bethe same or different). Here, for serving cell (index) #n, the RB setindicator (or availableRB-SetPerCell-r16) is not configured, but atleast one of the SFI field and the channel occupancy duration field isconfigured.

Specifically, Opt 1) it may be preconfigured/predefined that specific RBset(s) (index(s)) are available. Alternatively, Opt 2) when the numberof RB sets belonging to serving cell (index) #n (or active BWP in thecell) is 1 or when multiple RB sets are configured, the above-describedconfiguration may be allowed (i.e., the RB set indicator field oravailableRB-SetPerCell-r16 may not be configured) only if the number ofRBs corresponding to a frequency-domain guard band between thecorresponding RB sets is 0. When the UE determines the validity of RBset(s) determined to be available according to Opt 1 or Opt 2, the UEmay determine that the RB set(s) are valid for a duration indicated bythe channel occupancy duration field if the channel occupancy durationfield is configured. If the channel occupancy duration field is notconfigured, the UE may determine that the RB set(s) are valid for aduration corresponding to an indicated SFI index (see Tables 10 and 11).

In Opt 1, a specific RB set (index) may be predefined as a k-th (e.g.,k=1) RB set in serving cell (index) #n, and specific RB set(s)(index(s)) may be configured by higher layer signaling such as RRCsignaling. Only when the specific RB set(s) in serving cell (index) #nare available (or when the CAP is successful for the corresponding RBset(s)), the BS may be allowed to transmit DCI format 2_0 includinginformation indicating that the RB set(s) in the corresponding servingcell are available. In particular, Opt 1 may be (limitedly) applied whenserving cell (index) #n corresponding to RB set information and servingcell (index) #m in which DCI format 2_0 is transmitted have differentcell indices.

In Opt 2), when the number of RB sets belonging to serving cell (index)#n (or active BWP within the cell) is 1, or when the number of RBscorresponding to the frequency-domain guard band between thecorresponding RB sets is 0 even if multiple RB sets are configured, thecorresponding configuration may be allowed (i.e., the RB set indicatorfield or availableRB-SetPerCell-r16 may not be configured).Alternatively, only when Mode 1 described above is configured, thecorresponding configuration may be allowed (i.e., the RB set indicatorfield or availableRB-SetPerCell-r16 may not be configured).

In the proposed methods, if Mode 1 is configured, it may mean that thenumber of RBs corresponding to a frequency-domain guard band betweencorresponding RB sets is set to 0 even though a plurality of RB sets areconfigured for a specific serving cell. Alternatively, if Mode 1 isconfigured, it may mean that RRC signaling corresponding to a specificstate that there is no intra-carrier guard band is configured for acorresponding serving cell. In particular, Opt 2) may be (limitedly)applied when serving cell (index) #n corresponding to RB set informationand serving cell (index) #m in which DCI format 2_0 is transmitted havethe same cell index. That is, when RB set(s) in serving cell (index) #nare available, the BS may notify the availability by transmittingcorresponding DCI format 2_0.

In Opt 1 or Opt 2, the unavailability of a specific RB set may need tobe signaled. For example, if the value corresponding to the channeloccupancy duration field is less than or equal to a specific value(e.g., the channel occupancy duration is zero symbols), or if the valueof slotFormatCombinationId corresponding to the SFI index is notconfigured, it may mean that all RB set(s) belonging to correspondingserving cell index #n are unavailable. If all RB set(s) belonging tocorresponding serving cell index #n are unavailable, it may mean thatthe UE does not need to receive a DL signal such as a PDCCH and/or aCSI-RS in serving cell index #n. Alternatively, if all RB set(s)belonging to corresponding serving cell index #n are unavailable, it maymean that the UE is incapable of performing the Type 2 CAP when the UEtransmits a UL signal scheduled or configured within a duration wherecorresponding RB set information is valid (allocated to the frequencydomain in a specific RB set indicated to be available).

[Method #7A] Hereinafter, it will be described which RB set(s) belongingto serving cell (index) #n the UE is capable of recognizing as availableRB set(s) based on DCI format 2_0 received in slot #t when the UEmonitors DCI format 2_0 on serving cell (index) #m (where m and n may bethe same or different). Here, for serving cell (index) #n, all of the RBset indicator field, SFI field, and channel occupancy duration field arenot configured. In addition, there is proposed a method of determininghow long information on all or some RB sets of serving cell (index) #n,which is indicated to be available by DCI format 2_0 received in slot#t, is valid.

Specifically, which RB set(s) belonging to serving cell (index) #n theUE is capable of recognizing as available RB set(s) based on DCI format2_0 received in slot #t may be determined by [Method #6A].

In addition, how long information on all or some RB sets of serving cell(index) #n that is indicated to be available by DCI format 2_0 (which isdetermined by [Method #6A]) may be determined by [Method #5A].

[Method #8A] Hereinafter, a description will be given of a method ofconfiguring an RB set for a DL/UL carrier (or BWP) when Mode 1 isconfigured (as described above) and the bandwidth corresponding to onecarrier (or BWP) includes a plurality of CAP-BWs.

-   -   Opt 1: One RB set is configured for a DL carrier (or BWP), and        one RB set is configured for a UL carrier (or BWP)    -   Opt 2: One RB set is configured for a DL carrier (or BWP), and        as many RB sets as the number of CAP-BWs are configured for a UL        carrier (or BWP)    -   Opt 3: One RB set is configured for a DL carrier (or BWP), and        only one RB set is configured for each channel/signal for a UL        carrier (or BWP) (e.g., for a PUSCH, an SRS, etc.).        Alternatively, as many RB sets as the number of CAP-BWs are        configured (e.g., for a PUCCH, a PRACH, etc.).

In the proposed methods, a CAP-BW means a unit for performing the CAP onan unlicensed band (unlicensed spectrum or shared spectrum), which mayhave a bandwidth less than or equal to one carrier. The CAP-BW may bedefined in regulations for coexistence with other RATs (e.g., Wi-Fi). Ingeneral, the CAP-BW may have a bandwidth of 20 MHz. For example, whenMode 1 is configured and the bandwidth corresponding to one carrier (orBWP) is 40 MHz (i.e., when two CAP-BWs are included), one RB set may beconfigured for each DL/UL carrier (or BWP) in the case of Opt 1. In thecase of Opt 2, one RB set may be configured for a DL carrier (or BWP)and two RB sets may be configured for a UL carrier (or BWP). In the caseof Opt 3, one RB set may be configured for a DL carrier (or BWP). Inaddition, for a UL carrier (or BWP), one RB set may be configured forPUSCH allocation, and two RB sets may be configured for PUCCHallocation.

Opt 1 to Opt 3 proposed above may be applied in different ways dependingto which cell the options are applied.

-   -   Alt 1: Opt 1 (Opt 2 or Opt 3) is applied to any serving cell.    -   Alt 2: Opt 2 is applied to a PCell (PSCell or PUCCH-SCell), and        Opt 1 is applied to an SCell (SCell in which no PUCCH is        configured)    -   Alt 3: Opt 3 is applied to a PCell (PSCell or PUCCH-SCell), and        Opt 1 is applied to an SCell (SCell in which no PUCCH is        configured)

In particular, if a PUCCH (and/or PRACH) is configured to be transmittedover a plurality of CAP-BWs, channel transmission may not be attemptedeven if one CAP-BW is busy. Therefore, to increase the transmissionprobability of a corresponding channel, the channel transmission may belimited to one CAP-BW. Accordingly, when PUCCH resources are configuredas shown in Table 13, a specific RB set index may be allocated. Inaddition, if as many RB sets as the number of CAP-BWs are configured fora UL carrier (or BWP) composed of a plurality of CAP-BWs as in Alt 2 orAlt 3, it has the advantage of maintaining a configuration that confineseach PUCCH (and/or PRACH) to an RB set corresponding to one CAP-BW. Inthe case of the PUCCH, this may be applied only when interlace-basedtransmission is configured by an RRC parameter such asuseInterlacePUCCH-PUSCH-r16.

Similarly, if Alt 2 (or Alt 3) is applied to a PUSCH, resources may beallocated for each RB set index (as shown in Tables 15 and 16 below). Inparticular, in the case of the PUSCH, this may be applied only wheninterlace-based transmission is configured by the RRC parameter such asuseInterlacePUCCH-PUSCH-r16. Alternatively, if Alt 2 (or Alt 3) isapplied to the PUSCH, the UE may expect that even though a plurality ofRB sets are configured, actual PUSCH resource allocation corresponds toall RB sets in a corresponding UL BWP (for example, only a valuecorresponding to an RIV for allocating all RB set indices in Tables 15and 16 is allocated).

In the proposed methods, if Mode 1 is configured, it may mean that nointra-cell guard band is allocated for one serving cell (carrier or BWP)(as shown in Table 14 above). That is, the configurations ofintraCellGuardBandDL-r16 and intraCellGuardBandUL-r16 may indicate tothe UE that no intra-cell guard band is configured, which may mean Opt Aor Opt B below.

-   -   Opt A: It may mean that even if a plurality of RB sets are        configured for a corresponding serving cell (carrier or BWP),        the number of RBs corresponding to a frequency-domain guard band        between the corresponding RB sets is set to 0.    -   Opt B: It may mean that RRC signaling corresponding to a        specific state that there is no intra-carrier guard band is        configured for a corresponding serving cell (carrier or BWP).

Additionally, when a plurality of RB sets are configured as in Opt 2and/or Opt 3, it is necessary to clearly define the boundary between theRB sets.

When the configuration of a guard band includes the starting (common) RBindex and size of the guard band as in Opt A, if the size is set to 0,the UE may determine the boundaries of RB sets from each starting(common) RB index. For example, when a UL BWP with a bandwidth of 40 MHzis configured and the UL BWP consists of a total of 106 PRBs, if thestarting (common) RB index of a guard band is the 53rd index and if thesize is 0, the UE may recognize that first to 52nd RBs in the UL BWPbelong to RB set 0 and 53rd to 106th RBs belong to RB set 1.

Alternatively, when RRC signaling corresponding to a specific state thatthere is no intra-cell guard band is configured as in Opt B, the UE maydetermine the boundaries of RB sets by dividing a corresponding ULcarrier (or BWP) into equal (or almost equal) parts by the number ofCAP-BWs. For example, when a UL BWP with a bandwidth of 40 MHz isconfigured and the UL BWP consists of a total of 106 PRBs, the UL BWPincludes two CAP-BWs. Accordingly, the UE may divide 106 PRBs into twosets such that first to 53rd RBs in the UL BWP belong to RB set 0 and54th to 106th RBs belong to RB set 1. In general, when a UL carrier (orBWP) composed of K RBs includes N CAP-BWs, the first RB index (whereindexing starts from 0) of an n-th (where n=1, 2, . . . , N) RB set maybe obtained from ceiling {K*(n−1)/N} or floor {K*(n−1)/N}. In this case,ceiling {x} may mean the smallest natural number greater than or equalto x, and floor {x} may mean the largest natural number smaller than orequal to x.

Alternatively, when a plurality of RB sets are capable of beingconfigured as in Opt 2 and/or Opt 3, it may be configured that for a DLcarrier (or BWP), no intra-cell guard band is allocated as in Opt B, orit may be configured that for a UL carrier (or BWP), no intra-cell guardband is allocated as in Opt A.

In addition, if one RB set is configured for a DL carrier (or BWP) inOpt 1 to Opt 3, it may mean that the RB set indicator fieldcorresponding to the corresponding DL carrier (or BWP) is one bit.

[Method #9A] Hereinafter, a description will be given of a signalingmethod that allocates no intra-cell guard band for one serving cell(carrier or BWP), and a CAP method for the corresponding serving cell(carrier or BWP) will be described.

When a GB is configured for a DL carrier or a UL carrier as shown inTable 17, k entries each consisting of {starting common RB (CRB) index,GB size} may be signaled from higher layers. The UE may derive thestarting and ending CRB indices corresponding to (k+1) RB sets from acombination of the k entries and the starting and ending CRB indices ofthe corresponding DL carrier or UL carrier.

For example, referring to FIG. 15 , GB configuration related informationmay include three entries for an 80 MHz carrier consisting of a total of217 RBs (with an SCS of 30 kHz), and the UE may receive the GBconfiguration related information through RRC signaling.

Assuming that Table 17 is applied to FIG. 15 , when the first CRB indexof a carrier is N, the following may be derived from GB configurationrelated information received through RRC signaling: RB set 0 includesCRB indices N to (N+49), RB set 1 includes CRB indices (N+56) to(N+105), RB set 2 includes CRB indices (N+111) to (N+160), and RB set 3includes CRB indices (N+167) to (N+216). In this case, if the size of aspecific GB in the carrier is set to 0, the GB between RB sets may beset to be 0 RBs. To this end, the following options may be applied.

-   -   Opt 1: If the size of at least one GB between RB sets in a DL        carrier or UL carrier is set to 0, only signaling that the GB        size between all RB sets is set to 0 may be allowed.    -   Opt 2: If the size of at least one GB between RB sets in a DL        BWP or UL BWP is set to 0, only signaling that the GB size        between all RB sets is set to 0 may be allowed. In addition, if        the size of even one GB between the RB sets in the DL BWP or UL        BWP is set to be greater than 0, only signaling that the GB size        between all RB sets is set to be greater than 0 may be allowed.    -   Opt 3: It may be allowed that among GB sizes between RB sets in        a DL BWP or UL BWP, some are set to 0 and others are set to a        value greater than 0.

Referring to FIG. 16 , if the GB size for at least one entry for a DLcarrier or UL carrier is indicated as 0 in Opt 1, signaling may berestricted such that the GB size for all entries corresponding to the DLcarrier or UL carrier is set to 0. In this case, the BWP configurationmay be configured to accurately include one or more RB sets as shown inTable 17, or restrictions may be applied to the BWP configuration sothat only a BWP with the same band as the carrier is always configured.

For example, referring to FIG. 16 , when a band consisting of RB sets0/1/2/3 is operating as a UL active BWP, and when the UE performs ULtransmission in some of the RB sets, the UL transmission may be allowedonly if the CAP is successful for all RB sets. In other words, when theUE performs UL transmission in some of the corresponding RB sets, if theCAP fails for at least one RB set among all RB sets, the UL transmissionmay not be allowed. For example, when PUSCH transmission in slot #m isscheduled for RB set 0 and RB set 1, only if the CAP is successful forall RB sets 0/1/2/3, the PUSCH transmission scheduled in slot #m may beallowed.

Referring to FIG. 17 , it may be allowed that the GB size for someentries for a DL carrier or UL carrier is set to 0 and the GB size ofsome other entries is set to a value greater than 0 in Opt 2. However,when a BWP is configured for the corresponding DL carrier or UL carrier,signaling may be restricted such that the GB size for all entries forthe corresponding DL BWP or UL BWP is 0 or the GB size for all entriesis greater than 0. For example, referring to FIG. 17 , if a specific DLBWP or UL BWP includes either RB set 0 or RB set 1, only signaling thatboth RB set 0 and RB set 1 are configured to be included in thecorresponding BWP may be allowed. That is, a configuration in which allRB sets 0/1 are included in the BWP may be allowed, and a configurationin which at least one of RB set 2 and RB set 3 is included in the BWPmay be allowed. On the other hand, a configuration in which only RB set0 is included in the BWP or a configuration in which RB sets 0/1 and RBset 2 (or RB set 3) are included together in the BWP may not be allowed.For example, referring to FIG. 17 , a BWP configuration consisting ofonly RB sets 1/2/3 may not be allowed.

When a band consisting of RB sets 0/1 is operating as a DL active BWP,and when the BS performs DL transmission in some of the RB sets, the DLtransmission may be allowed only if the CAP is successful for all RBsets. In other words, when the BS performs DL transmission in some ofthe corresponding RB sets, if the BS fails the CAP for at least one RBset among all RB sets, the DL transmission may not be allowed. Forexample, when PDSCH transmission in slot #m is scheduled for RB set 0,only if the CAP is successful for all RB sets 0/1, the PDSCHtransmission scheduled in slot #m may be allowed.

Referring to FIG. 17 , a band of 80 MHz may be operating as a DL activeBWP in Opt 3. In this case, GB RRC signaling may indicate that the GBsize for the first entry is 0 and the GB size for the remaining entriesis greater than 0. When the BS performs DL transmission in some of theboth RB sets located at both ends of the GB set to 0, the DLtransmission may be allowed only if the CAP is successful for the bothRB sets. In other words, when the BS performs DL transmission in some ofthe both RB sets of the GB set to 0, if the CAP fails for at least oneRB set of the both RB sets, the DL transmission may not be allowed. Asan example, when PDSCH transmission in slot #m is scheduled for RB set0, only if the CAP is successful for all RB sets 0/1, the PDSCHtransmission scheduled in slot #m may be allowed. As another example,when PDSCH transmission in slot #m is scheduled for RB sets 1/2/3, onlyif the CAP is successful for all RB sets 0/1/2/3, the PDSCH transmissionscheduled in slot #m may be allowed. As a further example, when PDSCHtransmission in slot #m is scheduled for RB set 3, only if the CAP issuccessful for RB set 3, the PDSCH transmission scheduled in slot #m maybe allowed.

In addition, when Opts 1/2/3 are applied, the number of RBscorresponding to an interlace index configured as a PUCCH resource inany RB set may be 12 (or more). However, the interlace-based PUCCHresource defined in the NR-U system may include only 11 RBs or 10 RBs.Therefore, a rule for determining resource(s) used for actual PUCCHtransmission among the 12 (or more) RBs may be required. Specifically,for interlace-based PUCCH formats 0/1/2, if the number of RBscorresponding to an interlace index in an indicated RB set is 12 ormore, a PUCCH resource may consist of 11 RBs having the lowest (orhighest) PRB indices. In addition, for interlace-based PUCCH format 3,if the number of RBs corresponding to an interlace index in an indicatedRB set is 12 or more, a PUCCH resource may consist of 10 RBs with thelowest (or highest) PRB indices.

Alternatively, when Opts 1/2/3 are applied, restrictions may be appliedto signaling of the starting CRB index (and GB size) for each RB setsuch that the number of RBs corresponding to an interlace indexconfigured as a PUCCH resource in any RB set does not exceed 12 (ormore). In other words, when the UE derives RB set resources based onGB-related RRC signaling, the UE may expect that a PUCCH resourcecorresponding to any RB set does not include more than 12 RBs.

When Opts 1/2/3 are applied, a GB corresponding to the boundary of one(DL or UL) BWP may not be allowed to have a size of 0. In other words,in the example of FIG. 17 , if a BWP consists of RB sets 1/2/3, a BWPconfiguration consisting of only RB sets 1/2/3 may not be allowedbecause the size of a GB between RB set 0 and RB set 1, which is one ofthe boundaries of the BWP, is set to 0. As another example, in theexample of FIG. 17 , if a BWP consists of RB sets 1/2, a BWPconfiguration consisting of only RB sets 1/2 may not be allowed becausethe size of a GB between RB set 0 and RB set 1, which is one of theboundaries of the BWP, is set to 0. As a further example, in the exampleof FIG. 17 , if a BWP consists of RB sets 0/1, a BWP configurationconsisting of only RB sets 0/1 may not be allowed because the size of aGB between RB set 1 and RB set 2, which is one of the boundaries of theBWP, is set to be greater than 0.

[Method #10A] When monitoring of DCI format 2_0 is configured, thefollowing four fields may be configured for NR-U cells (for each cell).

-   -   SFI field    -   Channel occupancy duration field    -   RB set indicator field    -   Search space set switching field

When monitoring of DCI format 2_0 including the channel occupancyduration field is configured without the SFI field, the followingoperations: DL reception and UL transmission within the remaining COTduration indicated by the channel occupancy duration field may beunclear. In the existing NR operation, for reception of a DLsignal/channel (e.g., SPS PDSCH, periodic CSI-RS, semi-persistentCSI-RS, etc.) configured by higher layer signaling (e.g., RRCsignaling), if DCI format 2_0 is configured, the DL signal/channelreception is allowed only when DL is indicated by corresponding DCIformat 2_0. However, when monitoring of DCI format 2_0 including thechannel occupancy duration field is configured without the SFI field,whether reception of a DL signal/channel configured by higher layersignaling is allowed may be unclear.

As one method, whether reception of DL signals/channels configured byhigher layer signaling and transmission of UL signals/channelsconfigured by higher layer signaling are allowed within the remainingCOT duration indicated by DCI format 2_0 may be determined in the sameway as when DCI format 2_0 is not configured. That is, if a ULsignal/channel is indicated by a PDCCH or UL is not configured by RRCsignaling for all or some symbols of DL signals/channels configured tobe received by higher layer signaling, the BS may expect that the UEwill receive the corresponding DL signals/channels within the remainingCOT duration. In addition, if a DL signal/channel is indicated by aPDCCH or DL is not configured by RRC signaling for all or some symbolsof UL signals/channels configured to be transmitted by higher layersignaling, the BS may expect that the UE will transmit the correspondingUL signals/channels within the remaining COT duration. However, it maybe difficult for the BS to always guarantee the resources of thecorresponding DL signals/channels or UL signals/channels within the COTduration. In addition, the BS may need to transmit a PDCCH forscheduling related resources to cancel transmission and reception of thecorresponding signals/channels.

To solve the above problem, whether the UE needs to receive DLsignals/channels, which are configured to be transmitted from the BS byhigher layer signaling, within the remaining COT duration may beexplicitly signaled by the BS in DCI format 2_0. Specifically, the BSmay provide the explicit signaling through an additional 1-bit field ofDCI format 2_0. For example, if the additional 1-bit field value is ‘1’(or ‘0’), the BS may expect that the UE will receive DL signals/channelsconfigured to be received by higher layer signaling within the remainingCOT duration indicated by the channel occupancy duration field. On theother hand, if the additional 1-bit field value is ‘0’ (or ‘1’), the BSmay expect that the UE will not receive DL signals/channels configuredto be received by higher layer signaling within the remaining COTduration indicated by the channel occupancy duration field.

In addition, whether the UE needs to transmit UL signals/channels (e.g.,configured grant PUSCH, periodic SRS, semi-persistent SRS, etc.)configured to be transmitted by higher layer signaling within theremaining COT duration may be explicitly signaled by the BS in DCIformat 2_0. Specifically, the BS may provide the explicit signalingthrough the additional 1-bit field of DCI format 2_0. For example, whenthe additional 1-bit field value is ‘1’ (or ‘0’), the BS may expect thatthe UE will transmit UL signals/channels configured to be transmitted byhigher layer signaling within the remaining COT duration indicated bythe channel occupancy duration field (if the CAP is successful). On theother hand, when the additional 1-bit field value is ‘0’ (or ‘1’), theBS may expect that the UE will not transmit UL signals/channelsconfigured to be transmitted by higher layer signaling within theremaining COT duration indicated by the channel occupancy duration field

Alternatively, whether the UE needs to receive and transmit DLsignals/channels configured to be received by higher layer signaling andUL signals/channels configured to be transmitted by higher layersignaling within the remaining COT duration may be signaled explicitlyand simultaneously by the BS through the additional 1-bit field of DCIformat 2_0. Specifically, if the additional 1-bit field value is ‘l’ (or‘0’), the BS may expect that the UE will transmit/receive DL and ULsignals/channels configured by higher layer signaling within theremaining COT duration indicated by the channel occupancy durationfield. On the other hand, if the additional 1-bit field value is ‘0’ (or‘1’), the BS may expect that the UE will not transmit/receive DL and ULsignals/channels configured by higher layer signaling within theremaining COT duration indicated by the channel occupancy durationfield.

[Method #11A] When monitoring of DCI format 2_0 is configured, thefollowing four fields may be configured for NR-U cells (for each cell).

-   -   SFI field    -   Channel occupancy duration field    -   RB set indicator field    -   Search space set switching field

When monitoring of DCI format 2_0 including the RB set indicator fieldand/or the search set spatial set switching field is configured withoutthe SFI field and the channel occupancy duration field, it may bedifficult to determine the remaining COT duration, and the followingoperations: DL reception and UL transmission within the remaining COTduration may be unclear. In this case, the remaining COT duration may bedetermined according to [Method #5] proposed above. Alternatively, whenFBE is configured (that is, when the higher layer (e.g., RRC) parameterChannelAccessMode-r16 is semi-statically configured), the remaining COTduration may be defined by the maximum COT, T_(y)=0.95T_(x). In thiscase, T_(x) denotes a period (in units of msec), and the period isconfigured by a higher layer parameter, which may be set to one of {1,2, 2.5, 4, 5, 10} msec. That is, the maximum COT may be from thestarting time of every period to T_(y). Specifically, the remaining COTduration may be defined from a slot in which DCI format 2_0 is found toT_(y).

As one method, whether reception and transmission of DL signals/channelsconfigured to be received by higher layer signaling and ULsignals/channels configured to be transmitted by higher layer signalingare allowed within the remaining COT duration, which isdetermined/defined as above, may be determined in the same way as whenDCI format 2_0 is not configured in conventional NR. That is, if a ULsignal/channel is indicated by a PDCCH or UL is not configured by RRCsignaling for all or some symbols of DL signals/channels configured tobe received by higher layer signaling, the BS may expect that the UEwill receive the corresponding DL signals/channels within the remainingCOT duration. In addition, if a DL signal/channel is indicated by aPDCCH or DL is not configured by RRC signaling for all or some symbolsof UL signals/channels configured to be transmitted by higher layersignaling, the BS may expect that the UE will transmit the correspondingUL signals/channels within the remaining COT duration. However, it maybe difficult for the BS to always guarantee the resources of thecorresponding DL signals/channels or UL signals/channels within the COTduration. In addition, the BS may need to transmit a PDCCH forscheduling related resources to cancel transmission and reception of thecorresponding signals/channels.

To solve the above problem, whether the UE needs to receive DLsignals/channels configured to be received by higher layer signaling(e.g., RRC signaling) within the remaining COT duration may beexplicitly signaled by the BS in DCI format 2_0. Specifically, the BSmay provide the explicit signaling through the additional 1-bit field ofDCI format 2_0. For example, if the additional 1-bit field value is ‘1’(or ‘0’), the BS may expect that the UE will receive DL signals/channelsconfigured to be received by higher layer signaling within the remainingCOT duration determined/defined as above. On the other hand, if theadditional 1-bit field value is ‘0’ (or ‘1’), the BS may expect that theUE will not receive DL signals/channels configured to be received byhigher layer signaling within the remaining COT durationdetermined/defined as above.

In addition, whether UL signals/channels (e.g., configured grant PUSCH,periodic SRS, semi-persistent SRS, etc.) configured to be transmitted byhigher layer signaling (e.g., RRC signaling) are transmitted within theremaining COT duration may be explicitly signaled by the BS in DCIformat 2_0. Specifically, the BS may provide the explicit signalingthrough the additional 1-bit field of DCI format 2_0. For example, whenthe additional 1-bit field value is ‘1’ (or ‘0’), the BS may expect thatthe UE will transmit UL signals/channels configured to be transmitted byhigher layer signaling within the remaining COT durationdetermined/defined as above (if the CAP is successful). On the otherhand, when the additional 1-bit field value is ‘0’ (or ‘1’), the BS mayexpect that the UE will not transmit UL signals/channels configured tobe transmitted by higher layer signaling within the remaining COTduration determined/defined as above.

Alternatively, whether the UE needs to transmit/receive DLsignals/channels configured to be received by higher layer signaling andUL signals/channels configured to be transmitted by higher layersignaling within the remaining COT duration may be signaled explicitlyand simultaneously by the BS through the additional 1-bit field of DCIformat 2_0. Specifically, if the additional 1-bit field value is ‘1’ (or‘0’), the BS may expect that the UE will transmit/receive DL and ULsignals/channels configured by higher layer signaling within theremaining COT duration determined/defined as above. On the other hand,if the additional 1-bit field value is ‘0’ (or ‘1’), the BS may expectthat the UE will not transmit/receive DL and UL signals/channelsconfigured by higher layer signaling within the remaining COT durationdetermined/defined as above.

[Method #12A] When monitoring of DCI format 2_0 is configured, thefollowing four fields may be configured for NR-U cells (for each cell).

-   -   SFI field    -   Channel occupancy duration field    -   RB set indicator field    -   Search space set switching field

When the UE performs channel measurement, the UE may perform the channelmeasurement by performing averaging for a plurality of CSI-RSs.Specifically, when a plurality of CSI-RSs are received from the BS, theUE may measure a channel based on the average value of the plurality ofCSI-RSs. However, considering that the transmission power for eachcarrier/BWP/RB set may vary depending on whether the BS succeeds in theCAP for each carrier/BWP/RB set, it may be difficult to accuratelymeasure a channel if the channel is measured based on the average valueof CSI-RSs transmitted with different transmission power. For example,assuming that the maximum output power in a 5 GHz band is limited to 23dBm by regulations, if the BS performs transmission in a 40 MHz band,the output power for each 20 MHz band may be 20 dBm. If the BS performstransmission in a 20 MHz band, the output power for the 20 MHz band maybe 23 dBm. In this case, if a channel is measured based on the averagevalue of a CSI-RS transmitted with the 20 dBm power and a CSI-RStransmitted with the 23 dBm power, it may be difficult to accuratelymeasure the channel. Therefore, the UE needs to measure a channel basedon CSI-RSs transmitted with the same transmission power to accuratelymeasure the channel. However, since it may be difficult for the UE toknow the occupied bandwidth and output power of the BS, the UE mayperform averaging only for a plurality of CSI-RSs belonging to one DLtransmission burst (or DL burst) in which the same transmission power ismaintained. In other words, since it is difficult to expect that thesame transmission power will be maintained between different DLtransmission bursts, averaging may not be allowed between CSI-RSsbelonging to different DL transmission bursts when channel measurement(or CSI measurement) is performed. However, when the SFI field and thechannel occupancy duration field are not configured (or when monitoringof DCI format 2_0 is not configured), it may be difficult for the UE toidentify different DL transmission bursts in a corresponding cell.Accordingly, the present disclosure proposes methods for solving theabove-described problem. In the proposed methods, the channel occupancyduration field may be referred to as a COT indicator field, or thechannel occupancy duration field may be referred to as a COT durationfield in some embodiment. In addition, each of a plurality of CSI-RSsused for channel measurement may be a periodic CSI-RS or asemi-persistent CSI-RS.

Specifically, according to the proposed methods, when channelmeasurement (and/or interference measurement) is performed, averagingmay not be allowed between CSI-RSs that are determined not to beincluded in the same DL transmission burst (or determined not to be in aduration where the same power is maintained). That is, when the UEperforms channel measurement and/or interference measurement, averagingmay not be allowed between CSI-RSs determined to be included indifferent DL transmission bursts.

In an embodiment, the UE may expect thattimeRestrictionForChannelMeasurements (ortimeRestrictionForInterferenceMeasurements) is always configured for acorresponding cell. That is, when the SFI field and the channeloccupancy duration field are not configured (or when monitoring of DCIformat 2_0 is not configured), it may be difficult for the UE todetermine the presence of the same DL transmission burst because the UEis incapable of receiving information on the channel occupancy duration.Accordingly, the UE may perform channel measurement (and/or interferencemeasurement) only within a specific slot by assuming that the power ofthe BS may vary for each slot. The BS needs to maintain the same powerfor the same CSI-RS resource (or CSI-RS resource set) transmitted atleast within the slot.

In another embodiment, when monitoring of DCI format 2_0 is configured,but when the SFI field and the channel occupancy duration field are notconfigured, the UE may determine that the remaining COT durationdetermined by the method proposed above is the same DL transmissionburst (or determine that the same power is maintained for the remainingCOT duration). The BS needs to maintain the same power for the sameCSI-RS resource (or CSI-RS resource set) transmitted at least within theremaining COT duration.

In another embodiment, when the SFI field and the channel occupancyduration field are not configured, if a specific RRC parameter (e.g.,CSI-RS-ValidationWith-DCI-r16) is configured as shown in Table 19, theUE may determine (or recognize) that only periodic or semi-persistentCSI-RSs that fully overlap with a scheduled PDSCH and/or triggeredaperiodic CSI-RSs are valid. The UE may determine that periodic orsemi-persistent CSI-RSs that do not fully overlap with the scheduledPDSCH and/or triggered aperiodic CSI-RSs are invalid and may not receivethe corresponding periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RSs. Accordingly, theUE may not perform averaging for the periodic or semi-persistent CSI-RSsthat do not fully overlap with the scheduled PDSCH and/or triggeredaperiodic CSI-RSs during channel measurement. In this case, only whenthe scheduled PDSCH and/or triggered aperiodic CSI-RSs are continuous inthe time domain without a gap, the UE may recognize the correspondingcontinuous time resource duration as the same DL transmission burst(i.e., a duration where the same power is maintained). That is, when theUE performs channel measurement, if the scheduled PDSCH and/or triggeredaperiodic CSI-RSs are continuous in the time domain without gaps, the UEmay determine that the continuous time duration including the scheduledPDSCH and/or triggered aperiodic CSI-RSs is the same DL transmissionburst and then perform averaging for a plurality of CSI-RSs belonging tothe same DL transmission burst. For example, when the UE receives ascheduled PDSCH and triggered aperiodic CSI-RSs, and when the PDSCH andaperiodic CSI-RSs are continuous in the time domain without gaps, the UEmay determine that the continuous time duration including the PDSCH andaperiodic CSI-RSs is the same DL transmission burst. The BS needs tomaintain the same power for the same CSI-RS resource (or CSI-RS resourceset) transmitted at least within the corresponding continuous timeduration.

[Method #13A] Hereinafter, a description will be given of a method ofreceiving a P/SP CSI-RS during an SCell activation period andmeasuring/reporting CSI.

As shown in Table 20, the SCell activation period mentioned herein maymean a period between minimum delay requirements for SCell activationdefined in Tables 21 to 24 after reception of an activation command inslot n and transmission of a related HARQ-ACK in slot (n+k).

Specifically, the UE receives a P/SP CSI-RS at a time point other thanthe SCell activation period in the following case. For convenience, aserving cell where SCell activation is indicated is named cell #1.

-   -   Case 1: When the SFI field for cell #1 or the channel occupancy        duration or CO-duration field for cell #1 is configured in DCI        format 2_0→Since the COT duration is determined as shown in        Table 18, the UE may receive only a P/SP CSI-RS within the        determined COT duration and may not receive a P/SP-CSI-RS        outside the COT duration.    -   Case 2: When both the SFI field for cell #1 and the channel        occupancy duration or CO-duration field for cell #1 are not        configured in DCI format 20, but when        CSI-RS-ValidationWith-DCI-r16 (for cell #1) is configured→The UE        may receive only a P/SP CSI-RS in a region overlapping a PDSCH        or aperiodic CSI-RS indicated by UE-specific DCI as shown in        Table 19, but the UE may not receive a P/SP CSI-RS in other        regions.    -   Case 3: When both the SFI field for cell #1 and the channel        occupancy duration or CO-duration field for cell #1 are not        configured in DCI format 2_0, and when        CSI-RS-ValidationWith-DCI-r16 (for cell #1) is not        configured→The UE may receive a configured P/SP CSI-RS on the        assumption that the P/SP CSI-RS is always transmitted.

For Case 1 and/or Case 2, the UE may receive information on whether toreceive a P/SP CSI-RS in specific DCI before receiving the P/SPCSI-RSand determine whether to receive the P/SP CSI-RS based on the receivedinformation, unlike conventional P/SP CSI-RS reception (in licensedbands). However, since there is no requirement that the UE needs tomonitor a PDCCH during the SCell activation period, the UE may beconfigured not to perform PDCCH monitoring during the SCell activationperiod in some embodiments.

-   -   Alt 1: As one method, the UE may be requested to perform the        above-described operation, which is performed at a time other        than the SCell activation period, even during the SCell        activation period. However, when the UE is required to perform        the operation, which is performed at a time other than the SCell        activation period, during the SCell activation period, PDCCH        reception may be required before P/SP CSI-RS reception, and as a        result, the SCell activation delay requirement may increase.    -   Alt 2: As another method, P/SP CSI-RS reception may be allowed        without PDCCH reception (or without PDCCH information) during        the SCell activation period (even in Case 1 and/or Case 2). In        this case, in consideration of a CAP failure of the BS, the UE        may be required to perform BD for a P/SP CSI-RS. Alternatively,        the UE may receive the P/SP CSI-RS without BD by assuming that        the P/SP CSI-RS is always transmitted and perform CSI reporting.

In particular, a different method may be applied depending on whetherinformation on the COT duration of cell #1 and/or a PDSCH (and/oraperiodic CSI-RS) indication for cell #1 is provided in cell #2 otherthan cell #1. The reason for this is that after completion of tracking,AGC, application of a TCI configured in a CORESET, etc. for PDCCH DM-RSreception while SCell activation is performed in cell #1, a considerableamount of time may be required to stably receive a PDCCH at a BLER belowa predetermined threshold (e.g., 1%). However, if the above informationis provided in cell #2 that is currently activated, an additional timefor stable PDCCH reception may not be required. Thus, a P/SP CSI-RS maybe received based on PDCCH information.

Specifically, for Case 1 (that is, when the SFI field or channeloccupancy duration field for cell #1 is configured in DCI format 2_0),if the SFI field and/or channel occupancy duration field for cell #1 isconfigured in DCI format 2_0 transmitted on cell #2 (that is, if aCORESET TCI for receiving DCI format 2_0 on cell #1 is aligned, or if aCORESET TCI for receiving DCI format 20 indicating SFI/channel occupancyinformation related to cell #1 is aligned), the UE operation performedat a time other than the SCell activation period may be equallymaintained even during the SCell activation period. On the other hand,if the SFI field and/or channel occupancy duration field for cell #1 isnot configured in DCI format 2_0 transmitted in another serving cellother than cell #1 (that is, if a CORESET TCI for receiving DCI format2_0 on cell #1 is not aligned, or if a CORESET TCI for receiving DCIformat 2_0 indicating SFI/channel occupancy duration information relatedto cell #1 is not aligned), Opt 1) the UE may operate as in Alt 2, orOpt 2) the UE may be relaxed such that the UE does not need to performCSI reporting or comply with the requirements for CSI values for aspecific period of time (e.g., X ms, where X may be predefined andreported as UE capability) after the end of the SCell activation period.Alternatively, if the UE intends to report CSI, the UE may be allowed toreport an out-of-range value. In this case, the SFI/channel occupancyduration information may be indicated by the SFI field/channel occupancyduration field of DCI format 2_0.

In addition, for Case 2 (that is, when neither the SFI field for cell #1nor the channel occupancy duration field for cell #1 is configured inDCI format 2_0, but when CSI-RS-ValidationWith-DCI-r16 (for cell #1) isconfigured), if a PDSCH on cell #1 is capable of being scheduled by anyDCI format (e.g., DCI format 1_1/1_2/0_1/0_2) transmitted on cell #2(that is, if cross-carrier scheduling is configured), or if an aperiodicCSI-RS on cell #1 is capable of being triggered (that is, if a CORESETTCI for receiving DCI on cell #1 is aligned, or if a CORESET TCI forreceiving DCI indicating scheduling information related to cell #1 isaligned), the UE operation performed at a time other than the SCellactivation period may be equally maintained even during the SCellactivation period. On the other hand, if a PDSCH and/or aperiodic CSI-RSto be transmitted in cell #1 is incapable of being indicated by any DCIformat (e.g., DCI format 1_1/1_2/0_1/0_2) transmitted in another servingcell other than cell #1 (that is, if a CORESET TCI for receiving DCI oncell #1 is not aligned, or if a CORESET TCI for receiving DCI indicatingscheduling information related to cell #1 is not aligned), Opt 1) the UEmay operate as in Alt 2, or Opt 2) the UE may be relaxed such that theUE does not need to perform CSI reporting or comply with therequirements for CSI values for a specific period of time (e.g., X ms,where X may be predefined and reported as UE capability) after the endof the SCell activation period. Alternatively, if the UE intends toreport CSI, the UE may be allowed to report an out-of-range value.

Although the proposed methods are described based on operations inunlicensed bands, the methods may be applied to operations in licensedbands. Herein, the term unlicensed band may be interchangeably used withthe term shared spectrum.

3) Receiver & Transmitter (Between Receiver and Transmitter)

As shown in FIG. 19 , first, a UE may receive configuration of CCs in anunlicensed band and a BWP for each CC from a BS (S1602). In addition,the UE may receive configuration of a CC group from the BS. Such aconfiguration may be established based on higher layer (e.g., RRC)signaling and/or DCI. In addition, an SFI field in the CO-DCIcorresponding to the CAP-BW(s) in the CC group, and/or a bitmap fieldindicating the CAP-BW ON/OFF state, and/or a COT duration informationfield may be allocated to the UE by the BS (S1604). Here, theconfiguration for the allocation may be established based on higherlayer (e.g., RRC) signaling and/or DCI. For example, information (e.g.,offset) about the start position of the information in the CO-DCI may beshared through higher layer signaling.

Thereafter, the UE may receive the CO-DCI from the BS (S1606). Here, theCO-DCI may be transmitted in an unlicensed band or a licensed band. Inthis case, the UE may receive ON/OFF information, DL/UL information,and/or COT duration information about the corresponding CAP-BW(s) basedon the field information configured in the CO-DCI. In this case, basedon the received information, the UE may achieve a power saving effect byskipping PDCCH monitoring and/or channel measurement for the CAP-BW(s)which are in the OFF state or in the UL duration. Also, the BS maytransmit a signal to the UE through the unlicensed band(s) occupied bythe BS based on the CO-DCI. In response, the UE may receive the signalthrough the unlicensed band(s) occupied by the BS based on the CO-DCI.

The UE may perform a network access procedure to carry out theprocedures and/or methods described/proposed above. For example, the UEmay receive and store in the memory system information and configurationinformation necessary for performing the above-described/proposedprocedures and/or methods while performing access to a network (e.g.,BS). The configuration information necessary for the present disclosuremay be received through higher layer (e.g., RRC layer, Medium AccessControl (MAC) layer, etc.) signaling.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating operations between a UE and a BSaccording to another proposed embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 20 , the BS may transmit configuration information ongroup common DCI to the UE (S2000). In this case, the configurationinformation may mean information indicating that an SFI field and achannel occupancy duration field are not configured in the group commonDCI, or information for configuring the UE not to monitor the groupcommon DCI. The group common DCI may mean DCI based on DCI format 2_0.If the SFI field and the channel occupancy duration field are notconfigured in DCI format 2_0, or if the UE is configured not to monitorDCI format 2_0, the UE may not receive information on a channeloccupancy duration. If the UE does not receive the information on thechannel occupancy duration, it may be difficult for the UE to identifyDL transmission bursts. That is, if the UE does not receive theinformation on the channel occupancy duration directly from the BS, itmay be difficult for the UE to determine the presence of the same DLtransmission burst. However, when the UE performs channel measurement,the UE may perform the channel measurement based on a plurality ofCSI-RSs belonging to the same DL transmission burst. Thus, for a casewhen the UE does not explicitly receive the information on the channeloccupancy duration from the BS, there is a need for a method of enablingthe UE to determine the presence of the same DL transmission burst.

In S2010, the UE may obtain CSI based on a plurality of CSI-RSs thatfully overlap with at least one of a PDSCH and an aperiodic CSI-RS inthe time domain. In particular, when both the PDSCH and the aperiodicCSI-RS are received, a duration corresponding to the PDSCH and theaperiodic CSI-RS may be a continuous time duration in the time domain.Specifically, when the duration corresponding to the PDSCH and theaperiodic CSI-RS is the continuous time duration in the time domain, theUE may determine the continuous time duration as the same DLtransmission burst. Thus, the UE may obtain the CSI based on theplurality of CSI-RSs fully overlapping with the continuous timeduration. That is, the plurality of CSI-RSs fully overlapping with thecontinuous time duration may mean a plurality of CSI-RSs belonging tothe same DL transmission burst. Accordingly, the UE may obtain theinformation on the channel occupancy duration based on at least one ofthe PDSCH and the aperiodic CSI-RS and then perform the channelmeasurement based on the plurality of CSI-RSs belonging to the same DLtransmission burst.

In S2020, the UE may transmit the CSI to the BS based on the channelmeasurement result.

More specific examples will be described below with reference to thedrawings. In the following drawings/description, like reference numeralsdenote the same or corresponding hardware blocks, software blocks, orfunction blocks, unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 21 illustrates a communication system 1 applied to the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 21 , the communication system 1 applied to the presentdisclosure includes wireless devices, BSs, and a network. A wirelessdevice is a device performing communication using radio accesstechnology (RAT) (e.g., 5G NR (or New RAT) or LTE), also referred to asa communication/radio/5G device. The wireless devices may include, notlimited to, a robot 100 a, vehicles 100 b-1 and 100 b-2, an extendedreality (XR) device 100 c, a hand-held device 100 d, a home appliance100 e, an IoT device 100 f, and an artificial intelligence (AI)device/server 400. For example, the vehicles may include a vehiclehaving a wireless communication function, an autonomous driving vehicle,and a vehicle capable of vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication. Herein,the vehicles may include an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) (e.g., adrone). The XR device may include an augmented reality (AR)/virtualreality (VR)/mixed reality (MR) device and may be implemented in theform of a head-mounted device (HMD), a head-up display (HUD) mounted ina vehicle, a television (TV), a smartphone, a computer, a wearabledevice, a home appliance, a digital signage, a vehicle, a robot, and soon. The hand-held device may include a smartphone, a smartpad, awearable device (e.g., a smartwatch or smart glasses), and a computer(e.g., a laptop). The home appliance may include a TV, a refrigerator, awashing machine, and so on. The IoT device may include a sensor, asmartmeter, and so on. For example, the BSs and the network may beimplemented as wireless devices, and a specific wireless device 200 amay operate as a BS/network node for other wireless devices.

The wireless devices 100 a to 100 f may be connected to the network 300via the BSs 200. An AI technology may be applied to the wireless devices100 a to 100 f, and the wireless devices 100 a to 100 f may be connectedto the AI server 400 via the network 300. The network 300 may beconfigured using a 3G network, a 4G (e.g., LTE) network, or a 5G (e.g.,NR) network. Although the wireless devices 100 a to 100 f maycommunicate with each other through the BSs 200/network 300, thewireless devices 100 a to 100 f may perform direct communication (e.g.,sidelink communication) with each other without intervention of theBSs/network. For example, the vehicles 100 b-1 and 100 b-2 may performdirect communication (e.g. V2V/vehicle-to-everything (V2X)communication). The IoT device (e.g., a sensor) may perform directcommunication with other IoT devices (e.g., sensors) or other wirelessdevices 100 a to 100 f.

Wireless communication/connections 150 a, 150 b, and 150 c may beestablished between the wireless devices 100 a to 100 f/BS 200 andbetween the BSs 200. Herein, the wireless communication/connections maybe established through various RATs (e.g., 5G NR) such as UL/DLcommunication 150 a, sidelink communication 150 b (or, D2Dcommunication), or inter-BS communication (e.g. relay or integratedaccess backhaul (IAB)). Wireless signals may be transmitted and receivedbetween the wireless devices, between the wireless devices and the BSs,and between the BSs through the wireless communication/connections 150a, 150 b, and 150 c. For example, signals may be transmitted and receivedon various physical channels through the wirelesscommunication/connections 150 a, 150 b and 150 c. To this end, at leasta part of various configuration information configuring processes,various signal processing processes (e.g., channel encoding/decoding,modulation/demodulation, and resource mapping/demapping), and resourceallocation processes, for transmitting/receiving wireless signals, maybe performed based on the various proposals of the present disclosure.

FIG. 22 illustrates wireless devices applicable to the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 22 , a first wireless device 100 and a second wirelessdevice 200 may transmit wireless signals through a variety of RATs(e.g., LTE and NR). {The first wireless device 100 and the secondwireless device 200} may correspond to {the wireless device 100 x andthe BS 200} and/or {the wireless device 100 x and the wireless device100 x} of FIG. 26 .

The first wireless device 100 may include one or more processors 102 andone or more memories 104, and further include one or more transceivers106 and/or one or more antennas 108. The processor(s) 102 may controlthe memory(s) 104 and/or the transceiver(s) 106 and may be configured toimplement the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods,and/or operation flowcharts disclosed in this document. For example, theprocessor(s) 102 may process information in the memory(s) 104 togenerate first information/signals and then transmit wireless signalsincluding the first information/signals through the transceiver(s) 106.The processor(s) 102 may receive wireless signals including secondinformation/signals through the transceiver(s) 106 and then storeinformation obtained by processing the second information/signals in thememory(s) 104. The memory(s) 104 may be connected to the processor(s)102 and may store various pieces of information related to operations ofthe processor(s) 102. For example, the memory(s) 104 may store softwarecode including instructions for performing all or a part of processescontrolled by the processor(s) 102 or for performing the descriptions,functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/or operation flowchartsdisclosed in this document. The processor(s) 102 and the memory(s) 104may be a part of a communication modem/circuit/chip designed toimplement RAT (e.g., LTE or NR). The transceiver(s) 106 may be connectedto the processor(s) 102 and transmit and/or receive wireless signalsthrough the one or more antennas 108. Each of the transceiver(s) 106 mayinclude a transmitter and/or a receiver. The transceiver(s) 106 may beinterchangeably used with radio frequency (RF) unit(s). In the presentdisclosure, the wireless device may be a communicationmodem/circuit/chip.

The second wireless device 200 may include one or more processors 202and one or more memories 204, and further include one or moretransceivers 206 and/or one or more antennas 208. The processor(s) 202may control the memory(s) 204 and/or the transceiver(s) 206 and may beconfigured to implement the descriptions, functions, procedures,proposals, methods, and/or operation flowcharts disclosed in thisdocument. For example, the processor(s) 202 may process information inthe memory(s) 204 to generate third information/signals and thentransmit wireless signals including the third information/signalsthrough the transceiver(s) 206. The processor(s) 202 may receivewireless signals including fourth information/signals through thetransceiver(s) 106 and then store information obtained by processing thefourth information/signals in the memory(s) 204. The memory(s) 204 maybe connected to the processor(s) 202 and store various pieces ofinformation related to operations of the processor(s) 202. For example,the memory(s) 204 may store software code including instructions forperforming all or a part of processes controlled by the processor(s) 202or for performing the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals,methods, and/or operation flowcharts disclosed in this document. Theprocessor(s) 202 and the memory(s) 204 may be a part of a communicationmodem/circuit/chip designed to implement RAT (e.g., LTE or NR). Thetransceiver(s) 206 may be connected to the processor(s) 202 and transmitand/or receive wireless signals through the one or more antennas 208.Each of the transceiver(s) 206 may include a transmitter and/or areceiver. The transceiver(s) 206 may be interchangeably used with RFunit(s). In the present disclosure, the wireless device may be acommunication modem/circuit/chip.

Now, hardware elements of the wireless devices 100 and 200 will bedescribed in greater detail. One or more protocol layers may beimplemented by, not limited to, one or more processors 102 and 202. Forexample, the one or more processors 102 and 202 may implement one ormore layers (e.g., functional layers such as physical (PHY), mediumaccess control (MAC), radio link control (RLC), packet data convergenceprotocol (PDCP), RRC, and service data adaptation protocol (SDAP)). Theone or more processors 102 and 202 may generate one or more protocoldata units (PDUs) and/or one or more service data Units (SDUs) accordingto the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/oroperation flowcharts disclosed in this document. The one or moreprocessors 102 and 202 may generate messages, control information, data,or information according to the descriptions, functions, procedures,proposals, methods, and/or operation flowcharts disclosed in thisdocument and provide the messages, control information, data, orinformation to one or more transceivers 106 and 206. The one or moreprocessors 102 and 202 may generate signals (e.g., baseband signals)including PDUs, SDUs, messages, control information, data, orinformation according to the descriptions, functions, procedures,proposals, methods, and/or operation flowcharts disclosed in thisdocument and provide the generated signals to the one or moretransceivers 106 and 206. The one or more processors 102 and 202 mayreceive the signals (e.g., baseband signals) from the one or moretransceivers 106 and 206 and acquire the PDUs, SDUs, messages, controlinformation, data, or information according to the descriptions,functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/or operation flowchartsdisclosed in this document.

The one or more processors 102 and 202 may be referred to ascontrollers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, or microcomputers. Theone or more processors 102 and 202 may be implemented by hardware,firmware, software, or a combination thereof. For example, one or moreapplication specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more digitalsignal processors (DSPs), one or more digital signal processing devices(DSPDs), one or more programmable logic devices (PLDs), or one or morefield programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) may be included in the one ormore processors 102 and 202. The descriptions, functions, procedures,proposals, methods, and/or operation flowcharts disclosed in thisdocument may be implemented using firmware or software, and the firmwareor software may be configured to include the modules, procedures, orfunctions. Firmware or software configured to perform the descriptions,functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/or operation flowchartsdisclosed in this document may be included in the one or more processors102 and 202 or may be stored in the one or more memories 104 and 204 andexecuted by the one or more processors 102 and 202. The descriptions,functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/or operation flowchartsdisclosed in this document may be implemented using firmware or softwarein the form of code, an instruction, and/or a set of instructions.

The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be connected to the one or moreprocessors 102 and 202 and store various types of data, signals,messages, information, programs, code, instructions, and/or commands.The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be configured to includeread-only memories (ROMs), random access memories (RAMs), electricallyerasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), flash memories, harddrives, registers, cash memories, computer-readable storage media,and/or combinations thereof. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may belocated at the interior and/or exterior of the one or more processors102 and 202. The one or more memories 104 and 204 may be connected tothe one or more processors 102 and 202 through various technologies suchas wired or wireless connection.

The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may transmit user data, controlinformation, and/or wireless signals/channels, mentioned in the methodsand/or operation flowcharts of this document, to one or more otherdevices. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may receive user data,control information, and/or wireless signals/channels, mentioned in thedescriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/oroperation flowcharts disclosed in this document, from one or more otherdevices. For example, the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may beconnected to the one or more processors 102 and 202 and transmit andreceive wireless signals. For example, the one or more processors 102and 202 may perform control so that the one or more transceivers 106 and206 may transmit user data, control information, or wireless signals toone or more other devices. The one or more processors 102 and 202 mayperform control so that the one or more transceivers 106 and 206 mayreceive user data, control information, or wireless signals from one ormore other devices. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 may beconnected to the one or more antennas 108 and 208 and the one or moretransceivers 106 and 206 may be configured to transmit and receive userdata, control information, and/or wireless signals/channels, mentionedin the descriptions, functions, procedures, proposals, methods, and/oroperation flowcharts disclosed in this document, through the one or moreantennas 108 and 208. In this document, the one or more antennas may bea plurality of physical antennas or a plurality of logical antennas(e.g., antenna ports). The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 mayconvert received wireless signals/channels from RF band signals intobaseband signals in order to process received user data, controlinformation, and wireless signals/channels using the one or moreprocessors 102 and 202. The one or more transceivers 106 and 206 mayconvert the user data, control information, and wirelesssignals/channels processed using the one or more processors 102 and 202from the baseband signals into the RF band signals. To this end, the oneor more transceivers 106 and 206 may include (analog) oscillators and/orfilters.

Herein, at least one memory (e.g., 104 or 204) may store instructions orprograms. When executed, the instructions or programs may cause at leastone processor operably coupled to the at least one memory to performoperations according to some embodiments or implementations of thepresent disclosure.

In the present disclosure, a computer readable (storage) medium maystore at least one instruction or computer program, wherein the at leastone instruction or computer program may cause, when executed by at leastone processor, the at least one processor to perform operationsaccording to some embodiments or implementations of the presentdisclosure.

In the present disclosure, a processing device or apparatus may includeat least one processor and at least one computer memory connectable tothe at least one processor. The at least one computer memory may storeinstructions or programs. When executed, the instructions or programsmay cause the at least one processor operably coupled to the at leastone memory to perform operations according to some embodiments orimplementations of the present disclosure. FIG. 23 illustrates anotherexample of a wireless device applied to the present disclosure. Thewireless device may be implemented in various forms according to a usecase/service (refer to FIG. 21 ).

Referring to FIG. 23 , wireless devices 100 and 200 may correspond tothe wireless devices 100 and 200 of FIG. 22 and may be configured toinclude various elements, components, units/portions, and/or modules.For example, each of the wireless devices 100 and 200 may include acommunication unit 110, a control unit 120, a memory unit 130, andadditional components 140. The communication unit 110 may include acommunication circuit 112 and transceiver(s) 114. For example, thecommunication circuit 112 may include the one or more processors 102 and202 and/or the one or more memories 104 and 204 of FIG. 22 . Forexample, the transceiver(s) 114 may include the one or more transceivers106 and 206 and/or the one or more antennas 108 and 208 of FIG. 22 . Thecontrol unit 120 is electrically connected to the communication unit110, the memory 130, and the additional components 140 and providesoverall control to the wireless device. For example, the control unit120 may control an electric/mechanical operation of the wireless devicebased on programs/code/instructions/information stored in the memoryunit 130. The control unit 120 may transmit the information stored inthe memory unit 130 to the outside (e.g., other communication devices)via the communication unit 110 through a wireless/wired interface orstore, in the memory unit 130, information received through thewireless/wired interface from the outside (e.g., other communicationdevices) via the communication unit 110.

The additional components 140 may be configured in various mannersaccording to type of the wireless device. For example, the additionalcomponents 140 may include at least one of a power unit/battery,input/output (I/O) unit, a driving unit, and a computing unit. Thewireless device may be implemented in the form of, not limited to, therobot (100 a of FIG. 21 ), the vehicles (100 b-1 and 100 b-2 of FIG. 21), the XR device (100 c of FIG. 21 ), the hand-held device (100 d ofFIG. 21 ), the home appliance (100 e of FIG. 21 ), the IoT device (100 fof FIG. 21 ), a digital broadcasting terminal, a hologram device, apublic safety device, an MTC device, a medical device, a FinTech device(or a finance device), a security device, a climate/environment device,the AI server/device (400 of FIG. 21 ), the BSs (200 of FIG. 21 ), anetwork node, or the like. The wireless device may be mobile or fixedaccording to a use case/service.

In FIG. 23 , all of the various elements, components, units/portions,and/or modules in the wireless devices 100 and 200 may be connected toeach other through a wired interface or at least a part thereof may bewirelessly connected through the communication unit 110. For example, ineach of the wireless devices 100 and 200, the control unit 120 and thecommunication unit 110 may be connected by wire and the control unit 120and first units (e.g., 130 and 140) may be wirelessly connected throughthe communication unit 110. Each element, component, unit/portion,and/or module in the wireless devices 100 and 200 may further includeone or more elements. For example, the control unit 120 may beconfigured with a set of one or more processors. For example, thecontrol unit 120 may be configured with a set of a communication controlprocessor, an application processor, an electronic control unit (ECU), agraphical processing unit, and a memory control processor. In anotherexample, the memory 130 may be configured with a RAM, a dynamic RAM(DRAM), a ROM, a flash memory, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory,and/or a combination thereof.

Wireless communication technologies implemented in the wireless devices100 and 200 of the present disclosure may include narrowband Internet ofThings (NB-IoT) for low-power communication as well as LTE, NR, and 6G.For example, the NB-IoT technology may be an example of low-powerwide-area network (LPWAN) technologies and implemented in standards suchas LTE Cat NB1 and/or LTE Cat NB2. However, the NB-IoT technology is notlimited to the above names. Additionally or alternatively, the wirelesscommunication technologies implemented in the wireless devices 100 and200 of the present disclosure may perform communication based on theLTE-M technology. For example, the LTE-M technology may be an example ofLPWAN technologies and called by various names including enhancedmachine type communication (eMTC). For example, the LTE-M technology maybe implemented in at least one of the following various standards: 1)LTE CAT 0, 2) LTE Cat M1, 3) LTE Cat M2, 4) LTE non-Bandwidth Limited(non-BL), 5) LTE-MTC, 6) LTE Machine Type Communication, and/or 7) LTEM, etc., but the LTE-M technology is not limited to the above names.

Additionally or alternatively, the wireless communication technologiesimplemented in the wireless devices 100 and 200 of the presentdisclosure may include at least one of ZigBee, Bluetooth, and LPWAN inconsideration of low-power communication, but the wireless communicationtechnology is not limited to the above names. For example, the ZigBeetechnology may create a personal area network (PAN) related tosmall/low-power digital communication based on various standards such asIEEE 802.15.4 and so on, and the ZigBee technology may be called variousnames.

FIG. 24 illustrates a vehicle or an autonomous driving vehicle appliedto the present disclosure. The vehicle or autonomous driving vehicle maybe implemented as a mobile robot, a car, a train, a manned/unmannedaerial vehicle (AV), a ship, or the like.

Referring to FIG. 24 , a vehicle or autonomous driving vehicle 100 mayinclude an antenna unit 108, a communication unit 110, a control unit120, a driving unit 140 a, a power supply unit 140 b, a sensor unit 140c, and an autonomous driving unit 140 d. The antenna unit 108 may beconfigured as a part of the communication unit 110. The blocks110/130/140 a to 140 d correspond to the blocks 110/130/140 of FIG. 28 ,respectively.

The communication unit 110 may transmit and receive signals (e.g., dataand control signals) to and from external devices such as othervehicles, BSs (e.g., gNBs and road side units), and servers. The controlunit 120 may perform various operations by controlling elements of thevehicle or the autonomous driving vehicle 100. The control unit 120 mayinclude an ECU. The driving unit 140 a may enable the vehicle or theautonomous driving vehicle 100 to drive on a road. The driving unit 140a may include an engine, a motor, a powertrain, a wheel, a brake, asteering device, and so on. The power supply unit 140 b may supply powerto the vehicle or the autonomous driving vehicle 100 and include awired/wireless charging circuit, a battery, and so on. The sensor unit140 c may acquire information about a vehicle state, ambient environmentinformation, user information, and so on. The sensor unit 140 c mayinclude an inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor, a collision sensor, awheel sensor, a speed sensor, a slope sensor, a weight sensor, a headingsensor, a position module, a vehicle forward/backward sensor, a batterysensor, a fuel sensor, a tire sensor, a steering sensor, a temperaturesensor, a humidity sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, an illumination sensor,a pedal position sensor, and so on. The autonomous driving unit 140 dmay implement technology for maintaining a lane on which the vehicle isdriving, technology for automatically adjusting speed, such as adaptivecruise control, technology for autonomously driving along a determinedpath, technology for driving by automatically setting a route if adestination is set, and the like.

For example, the communication unit 110 may receive map data, trafficinformation data, and so on from an external server. The autonomousdriving unit 140 d may generate an autonomous driving route and adriving plan from the obtained data. The control unit 120 may controlthe driving unit 140 a such that the vehicle or autonomous drivingvehicle 100 may move along the autonomous driving route according to thedriving plan (e.g., speed/direction control). During autonomous driving,the communication unit 110 may aperiodically/periodically acquire recenttraffic information data from the external server and acquiresurrounding traffic information data from neighboring vehicles. Duringautonomous driving, the sensor unit 140 c may obtain information about avehicle state and/or surrounding environment information. The autonomousdriving unit 140 d may update the autonomous driving route and thedriving plan based on the newly obtained data/information. Thecommunication unit 110 may transfer information about a vehicleposition, the autonomous driving route, and/or the driving plan to theexternal server. The external server may predict traffic informationdata using AI technology based on the information collected fromvehicles or autonomous driving vehicles and provide the predictedtraffic information data to the vehicles or the autonomous drivingvehicles.

The embodiments of the present disclosure described above arecombinations of elements and features of the present disclosure. Theelements or features may be considered optional unless otherwisementioned. Each element or feature may be practiced without beingcombined with other elements or features. Further, an embodiment of thepresent disclosure may be constructed by combining parts of the elementsand/or features. Operation orders described in embodiments of thepresent disclosure may be rearranged. Some constructions of any oneembodiment may be included in another embodiment and may be replacedwith corresponding constructions of another embodiment. It is obvious tothose skilled in the art that claims that are not explicitly cited ineach other in the appended claims may be presented in combination as anembodiment of the present disclosure or included as a new claim by asubsequent amendment after the application is filed.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present disclosure maybe carried out in other specific ways than those set forth hereinwithout departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of thepresent disclosure. The above embodiments are therefore to be construedin all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of thedisclosure should be determined by the appended claims and their legalequivalents, not by the above description, and all changes coming withinthe meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended tobe embraced therein.

The present disclosure may be used for a UE, a BS, or other equipment ina wireless mobile communication system.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of transmitting channel stateinformation (CSI) by a user equipment (UE) in a wireless communicationsystem supporting a shared spectrum, the method comprising: based oninformation on a channel occupancy duration and a slot format being notprovided, obtaining the CSI without averaging instances of channel stateinformation reference signals (CSI-RSs), wherein the instances of theCSI-RSs occur within a time duration which are not all occupied by atleast one of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and an aperiodicCSI-RS; and transmitting the CSI.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein thefailure to receive the information comprises receiving group commondownlink control information (DCI) in which a slot format indicatorfield and a channel occupancy duration field are not configured orskipping monitoring of the group common DCI.
 3. The method of claim 1,further comprising: receiving, through higher layer signaling,information indicating to configure the CSI-RSs based on the at leastone of the PDSCH and the aperiodic CSI-RS.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the CSI is obtained based on an average value of each sameinstance of the instances, and wherein the each same instance occurswithin a time duration which are all occupied by the PDSCH and theaperiodic CSI-RS.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the CSI-RSsis a periodic CSI-RS or a semi-persistent CSI-RS.
 6. A user equipment(UE) configured to operate in a wireless communication system supportinga shared spectrum, the UE comprising: at least one radio frequency (RF)unit; at least one processor; and at least one computer memory operablyconnected to the at least one processor and configured to, whenexecuted, cause the at least one processor to perform operationscomprising: based on information on a channel occupancy duration and aslot format being not provided, obtaining channel state information(CSI) without averaging instances of channel state information referencesignals (CSI-RSs), wherein the instances of the CSI-RSs occur within atime duration which are not all occupied by at least one of a physicaldownlink shared channel (PDSCH) and an aperiodic CSI-RS; andtransmitting the CSI.
 7. The UE of claim 6, wherein the failure toreceive the information comprises receiving group common downlinkcontrol information (DCI) in which a slot format indicator field and achannel occupancy duration field are not configured or skippingmonitoring of the group common DCI.
 8. The UE of claim 6, wherein theoperations further comprise receiving, through higher layer signaling,information indicating to configure the CSI-RSs based on the at leastone of the PDSCH and the aperiodic CSI-RS.
 9. The UE of claim 6, whereinthe CSI is obtained based on an average value of each same instance ofthe instances, and wherein the each same instance occurs within a timeduration which are all occupied by the PDSCH and the aperiodic CSI-RS.10. The UE of claim 6, wherein each of the CSI-RSs is a periodic CSI-RSor a semi-persistent CSI-RS.
 11. An apparatus for a user equipment (UE),the apparatus comprising: at least one processor; and at least onecomputer memory operably connected to the at least one processor andconfigured to, when executed, cause the at least one processor toperform operations comprising: based on information on a channeloccupancy duration and a slot format being not provided, obtainingchannel state information (CSI) without averaging instances of channelstate information reference signals (CSI-RSs), wherein the instances ofthe CSI-RSs occur within a time duration which are not all occupied byat least one of a physical downlink shared channel (PDSCH) and anaperiodic CSI-RS; and transmitting the CSI.
 12. The apparatus of claim11, wherein the failure to receive the information comprises receivinggroup common downlink control information (DCI) in which a slot formatindicator field and a channel occupancy duration field are notconfigured or skipping monitoring of the group common DCI.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprisereceiving, through higher layer signaling, information indicating toconfigure the CSI-RSs based on the at least one of the PDSCH and theaperiodic CSI-RS.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the CSI isobtained based on an average value of each same instance of theinstances, and wherein the each same transmission burst occurs within atime duration which are all occupied by the PDSCH and the aperiodicCSI-RS.
 15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each of the CSI-RSs is aperiodic CSI-RS or a semi-persistent CSI-RS.
 16. A computer-readablestorage medium comprising at least one computer program configured to,when executed, cause at least one processor to perform operationscomprising: based on information on a channel occupancy duration and aslot format being not provided, obtaining channel state information(CSI) without averaging instances of channel state information referencesignals (CSI-RSs), wherein the instances of the CSI-RSs occur within atime duration which are not all occupied by at least one of a physicaldownlink shared channel (PDSCH) and an aperiodic CSI-RS; andtransmitting the CSI.
 17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim16, wherein the failure to receive the information comprises receivinggroup common downlink control information (DCI) in which a slot formatindicator field and a channel occupancy duration field are notconfigured or skipping monitoring of the group common DCI.
 18. Thecomputer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the operationsfurther comprise receiving, through higher layer signaling, informationindicating to configure the CSI-RSs based on the at least one of thePDSCH and the aperiodic CSI-RS.
 19. The computer-readable storage mediumof claim 16, wherein the CSI is obtained based on an average value ofeach same instance of the instances, and wherein the each same instanceoccurs within a time duration which are all occupied by the PDSCH andthe aperiodic CSI-RS.
 20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim16, wherein each of the CSI-RSs is a periodic CSI-RS or asemi-persistent CSI-RS.